The Prime Minister conceded to the demands of a united Opposition and made a statement this morning in parliament on Anna Hazare's arrest. "It is my painful duty to report on the events of yesterday," Dr Manmohan Singh said. He stressed that the Delhi Police "had no choice" but to arrest Mr Hazare and that while his government "acknowledges the right of citizens to hold peaceful protests," conditions that guarantee law and order will not be disturbed need to be met.
"Our government does not seek any confrontation with any section of the society. But when some sections of society deliberately challenge the authority of the Government and the prerogative of Parliament, it is the bounden duty of the Government to maintain peace and tranquility," said the PM.
The Opposition protested loudly, indicating that the government's Anna crisis is escalating. Mr Hazare himself has refused to leave Tihar Jail, where he was moved last evening.
The 74-year-old Gandhian was arrested in Delhi yesterday in the morning for stating that he would defy prohibitory orders by trying to hold a protest at JP Park in Delhi. He was taken to Tihar Jail around 4 pm, after he refused to give an undertaking that he would not hold his planned protest. After much public criticism in the form of demonstrations and candlelight vigils in support of Mr Hazare, the Delhi Police decided last night to release Mr Hazare.
However, he has refused, stating that he will not leave Tihar till he is promised in writing that the government will not force any conditions upon him for his hunger strike and demonstration against corruption.
"Those who believe that their voice and their voice alone represents the will of 1.2 billion people should reflect deeply on that position. They must allow the elected representatives of the people in Parliament to do the job that they were elected for," Dr Singh said.
Hundreds of supporters are waiting outside Tihar Jail for Mr Hazare. The Left, BJP and other opposition parties like Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party (SP) warned yesterday that they would not allow parliament to function till the PM explained the government's action against Mr Hazare. The BJP stressed that while the party may not agree with Mr Hazare's charter of demands, his arrest amounts to "a murder of democracy."
The PM in the Lok Sabha explained in detail the chain of events that preceded Mr Hazare's arrest including negotiations between the Delhi Police and Mr Hazare's team for the protest they were planning in Delhi. The PM reiterated what the government said in its defense all day yesterday as public protests swelled in the streets -"Mr Hazare and his supporters would have been allowed to hold their protests if they had accepted the conditions." The police wanted Mr Hazare to limit his hunger strike to three days and his supporters to 5,000.
In Parliament, the government has chosen to introduce its version, angering Mr Hazare, who wanted his draft to also be considered.
If Mr Singh seriously feels that his government is the representative of 1.2 billion people of india, he should be strong enough to dissolve the parliament and face elections right away..
ReplyDeleteAnna is not forcing the law upon the government in any manner, it is the government trying to protect the ministers from any such laws..coz they know the consequences....
Mr Singh's speech is not of a strong leader but just a puupet who read's out the phrases rolled out by his party.
The PM is trying to hide behind the police, which is directly following the orders of a certain congress government in Delhi...
Mr.Manmohan Singh is leading a corrupt and anarchic govt. and we can't expect a wise and unbiased reaction from him other than this. However Congress claims that he himself is not corrupt but leading such a govt. and GOM is in itself brazening.He's a weak PM and is being remote controlled.So he could not do much when it comes to take any decision.The act he and his company did by arresting Anna and his team,although wearing a mask of Delhi Police, is shameful and should be condemned.We would have appraised him had he safeguarded the rights given by Indian constitution to its every citizen.Such leaders are shame for any nation. Thumbs down for Manmohan Singh.
ReplyDeleteMr.Manmohan Singh is leading a corrupt and anarchic govt. and we can't expect a wise and unbiased reaction from him other than this. However Congress claims that he himself is not corrupt but leading such a govt. and GOM is in itself brazening.He's a weak PM and is being remote controlled.So he could not do much when it comes to take any decision.The act he and his company did by arresting Anna and his team,although wearing a mask of Delhi Police, is shameful and should be condemned.We would have appraised him had he safeguarded the rights given by Indian constitution to its every citizen.Such leaders are shame for any nation. Thumbs down for Manmohan Singh.
ReplyDeleteMMS's speech drafted by a lawyer, which is obvious since it employed a mix of falsehoods and half truths.
ReplyDeleteHe started with the falsehood, "Shri Anna Hazare and his supporters have persisted with their demand that the Jan Lok Pal Bill drafted by Shri Anna Hazare should be introduced in Parliament and that the Jan Lok Pal Bill should be the Bill that must be passed by Parliament"
FALSE- Anns asked that the Janlokpal points be considered and a mixed bill be made + we were ok with any bill as long as it took care of our fears which are outlined in the Janlokpal
Half truths continued with "Delhi Police held discussions with the applicants in order to identify a suitable place and to formulate the conditions under which the permission could be granted for holding a fast at that place"
FULL TRUTH - 22 YES TWENTY TWO conditions were put, and some of them as ridiculous as only 50 cars when our President travels in a cavalcade of 52 cars.
He then went on to blame the IAC for not getting permission since they refused 6 of the most ridiculous conditions. ( Note same stunt has been tried with Lokpal Bill)
He then goes on to talk about how Anna et al refused to sign personal bonds. Are they mad, if they did the Govt would have found some way to say that hey were violating them and then do a Baba Ramdev with them. Baba was foolish enough to trust them and sign a paper which effectively finished any future protests he may hold.
He then goes on to "Delhi Police received information that Shri Anna Hazare intended to move the Supreme
Court challenging the orders of Delhi Police. Delhi Police also received information that the petition was likely to
be mentioned before the Supreme Court on Wednesday, i.e. today, for urgent hearing. Since there were reasonable grounds to believe that Shri Anna Hazare had opted to seek legal remedies, Delhi Police did not apprehend any imminent breach of peace or imminent disturbance to tranquillity if the arrested persons were
released."
What a load of crock. Delbhi police didnt , Congress heard and knew that if it went to Supreme Court, it may mean a ruling which would bring down the Govt or invoke riots , since massive human rights violations had happened.
He goes on to blatantly say "Our Government acknowledges the right of citizens to hold peaceful protests. In fact, Delhi Police have allowed several such protests, but in each case appropriate conditions have always been imposed and the organisers were always required to give an undertaking to abide by all the conditions"
Oh yeah- show us one more letter like this with 22 conditions, we dare you, we double dare you, we triple dare you , you lying piece of ......
Then he says "All of us in this House are agreed that a Lok Pal Bill must be passed as early as possible" NOTE THE KEY WORD - "A" lok pal bill
Then goes on to say " The question is, who drafts the law and who makes the law?"
As of now the NAC which is a civil society drafts the law.
Then "However, I am not aware of any constitutional philosophy or principle that allows anyone to question the sole prerogative of Parliament to make a law"
Who said parliament does not have the sole prerogative to make the law, as to drafting they have set precedent by outsourcing it already.
I could go on and on.....suffice to say every time he opens his mouth its bringing them closer to the gallows.