He said that nearly 2000-3000 Anna supports have also been taken into custody. “We are not prohibiting a peaceful protest but there should be a reasonable condition. Delhi police has laid some condition and they defied, it is unacceptable” Chidambaram said.
Mr. Chidambaram explained the circumstances under which the Delhi Police decided to take Anna under preventive custody. He elaborated that team Anna Hazare did not comply with the conditions set by Delhi Police.
Another senior minister Kapil Sibal said that the J P Park where Anna wanted to do indefinite fast is near a hospital and medical college and large market of Daryaganj.
“How can police allow him to do protest indefinitely? Who will take care of problem of common people who pass through this route”? asks Sibal. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni called upon media not to sway in one direction. “Anna is not only who is against corruption. We too are against the corruption but the way Anna had chosen was not correct” says Soni.
Union Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal termed as baseless the opposition’s allegation that Hazare was arrested at the behest of Congress Party. Mr Bansal said that the all decisions on this issue are been taken by the Delhi Police. He said that the BJP should not stoop to such level to gain political mileage.
Meanwhile BJP today alleged the government is creating Emergency like situation by depriving opposition to speak in Parliament and arresting Anna Hazare along with his supporters. Talking to media outside Parliament, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said that government is not in favour of smooth functioning of Parliament.
Left parties today said that government should not stop a peaceful protest. Talking to reporters outside Parliament, senior CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat condemned Anna Hazare’s detention.