Congress party ready to talk to Team Anna if approached

The Congress party expressed its readiness to talk to Team Anna if it formally approaches the government over the Lokpal issue.

An indication to this effect was available after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh chaired an hour-long meeting with senior ministers to take stock of the situation arising out of Anna Hazare's fast at Ramlila Maidan.

Highly placed sources in the party said they have no problem in holding negotiations with the civil society group led by Hazare if they express readiness for the same. A number of party leaders, speaking on condition of anonymity, have said the government should re-engage Team Anna in talks.

The hour-long meeting of Congress Core Committee chaired by the Prime Minister was attended by all other members including Union Ministers Pranab Mukherjee, P Chidambaram, A K Antony and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel.

The meeting came against the backdrop of Hazare setting a deadline of August 30 for the government to get the Janlokpal Bill passed in Parliament, failing which he decided to continue his fast "till my last breath".

Differences within Congress over the way Anna Hazare issue was handled came to the fore today with East Delhi MP Sandeep Dikshit stating that the Gandhian should not have been arrested and adverse comments made against him could have been avoided.

Asked whether Hazare's arrest was wrong, Dikhit replied, "It was wrong on the part of Delhi police. I would not say it was the decision of UPA government. But I think it was wrong on the part of Delhi police to arrest him.

Sri Sri Ravishankar reaches Tihar to meet Anna

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev and the Art of Living Foundation head Sri Sri Ravishankar on Wednesday joined protestors expressing solidarity with Anna Hazare outside Tihar Jail.

Sri Sri has been a long standing supporter of Mr Hazare's movement India Against Corruption.

Sri Sri Ravishankar told, "I have come here to meet Anna Hazare".

Asked to comment on the government's action against Mr Hazare, Sri Sri said "will any sane person say that it was the right action?"

In a veiled criticism of Congress, he criticised the "double-speak" of the party saying "it is not good that one day Hazare is accused of corruption and the next day you say this is not good".

Ramdev, with whom Hazare and his associates have differences due to his alleged links with Hindutva elements, reached Tihar Jail on Wednesday afternoon. He was denied entry in Tihar Jail to meet Anna Hazare.

Earlier, Ramdev submitted a memorandum against Hazare's arrest to President Pratibha Patil. Addressing protesters, Ramdev termed Hazare's arrest as a "conspiracy in the name of democracy".

Anna is fighting for a strong Lokpal and his dream will be fulfilled. The whole country and all patriotic countrymen are with him in this struggle," he said.

Activists Kiran Bedi, Swami Agnivesh and Medha Patkar had earlier joined hundreds of protestors while a large number of the Gandhian's supporters took out marches across the city.

India unites: Protests, fasts across nation in support of Anna Hazare

Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal's and Kiran Bedi's arrest by the Delhi police, terming it as an attack on the fundamental right to protest.

BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu and other BJP leaders held a candle march in support of Anna. Phagwara Parshuram Sena started a day long hunger strike in Phagwara in Guru Hargobind Nagar area near Improvement Trust Office to protest against Anna Hazare's arrest.

Carrying flags and placards, hundreds of Anna supporters gathered on Madhya Marg, the main artery of Chandigarh. Advocates went on strike in Phagwara to protest against  Anna Hazare.
Members of Shaheed Bhagat Singh memorial society gathered at the hall gate to demonstrate against the arrest and to extend support to Anna.

Haryana khap panchayats also announced to support the Anna agitation for the Jan Lokpal Bill.

 Rights activists, writers, artists and professionals from different walks in Kerala came out against the arrest of Anna Hazare and his close associates in New Delhi.

Activists under "Citizen's Forum" organised a fast in the state capital protesting Hazare.

Several youths, including IT professionals, gathered under the banner of "India Against Corruption" here in support of the anti-graft movement launched by the Gandhian.

Activist Anna Hazare's supporters took out processions, organised meetings and staged demonstrations across Orissa to protest his detention in New Delhi.
While a group of people shouting slogans against the central government took out a march here, hundreds of activists held a protest meeting near the state assembly.

People from all walks of life came out on the streets and took part in sit-in demonstrations and protests organised in at least three places of the city. Some people also observed fast.

There are 25 people who have registered their names for the indefinite fast and around 70 for participating in relay fast.

Freedom fighter Lakshmikanthan Bharathi, 85, began his fast here. Ninety-year-old Venkata Kalyanam, former personal secretary to Mahatma Gandhi, is also expected to join.

In Jaipur: Supporters of Anna Hazare called the detention of the social activist "unconstitutional" as they began their relay-strike in the city today.

"Police action against Anna is completely unconstitutional and the people of Jaipur are in his support," an activist, Laxman Singh said.

The activists, demanding a strong Lokpal Bill, began their three-day relay-strike at Udyog Maidan near statue circle here.

"Each day, 25 people will sit on the strike in Anna's support," Laxman said, adding that a rally has also been proposed in support of Anna, who was detained in New Delhi this morning.

Police said more than 100 people had gathered in Mandi's Seri Manch area to support Hazare's crusade.

Additional Director General of Police S R Mardi said, "As long as there is a peaceful protest, we will not disturb them. But we will not allow anyone to disturb law and order.

Anna : Arrest is beginning of second freedom struggle

Anna Hazare on Tuesday asked people to participate in a "jail bharo" agitation. Besides Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi were taken into preventing custody.

PM Manmohan Singh on Monday seemed to be taking charge of Congress's counter-offensive against Anna Hazare by holding a huddle with senior party leaders.

Police denied the septuagenarian permission on Monday to fast near a cricket stadium because he had failed to meet certain conditions, including ending his fast in three days and ensuring not more than 5,000 people took part.

"Police have detained us," Arvind Kejriwal, an aide to Hazare.

Police took Hazare into custody to prevent a breakdown in law and order in the capital as thousands of followers were due to take part in the fast.

Hazare has become a serious challenge for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government, challenging it over its failure to tackle corruption in Asia's third largest economy.