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Detained without a protest

HindustanTimes.com | ByAlexina Correya, New Delhi
Dec 18, 2011 12:52 PM IST

Protesters who came to JP park to support Anna Hazare's fast where detained by the Delhi Police, many though happy to be arrested said they would come bak stronger and the Jan lokpal bill would win in the end.

There were no drumbeats, no anti-corruption skits staged or team Anna at the original protest venue this time on Tuesday. In fact even before the Dharna could start the Delhi police did everything to stop it.

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HT Image

Even after Anna Hazare was arrested by the police from Mayur Vihar many of his supporters decided to carry out the protest. But, the Delhi police had plans of their own, including detaining anyone who cried foul.

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At 9 am on Tuesday, instead of thousands of protestors who were supposed to have been at Jai Prakash Narayan Park, the road to the ground was filled with police personnel and the other usual suspect at any event, --the Media. Later on in the day protestors came in groups only to be taken away in pre arranged buses to the Chhatrasal stadium.

"This is not democracy, we will be with Anna till the end," a protester said as he was being taken away in a police bus.

Ashutosh anand from Bihar said, "The campaign will only get bigger with the restrictions, we will come back stronger."

Raj Vir Singh from Meerut, who has heads a team at Meerut to stage a Dharna supporting Anna' fast, was at the JP park on Tuesday. On the lokpal bill being the one solution to corruption, he said: "We have to start somewhere, too much talking has been done. Something has to be done now, and the Jan lokpal bill will serve that purpose."

Ready to be arrested

Many of Anna's supporters who came to the park were prepared and ready to be arrested. They said if Anna was in jail, they were ready to be behind bars too-for the Jan lokpal bill.

"Anna you go ahead, we are with you," said Arun from Delhi who came for the protest.

Raj Singh said the police "offered" to arrest him if he wanted to. He replied, "I am not in hurry, let me see if more protesters come along, and then I shall decide." The police politely obliged he said.

Basu, a professor from Delhi University said the fact that the supporters came here to be arrested itself is a protest in a way-a peaceful protest. But, he said, if the situation continues for some more days, and Anna is not released the protest could take an agitated turn.

DU student's protest becomes a hit

Meanwhile, Delhi University students gathered in huge numbers outside the Chhatrasal stadium. Around 3000 students came together and chanted anti-UPA slogans in the road leading to the stadium.

They said the protest they staged was not pre-planned; they originally planned to join the protest at JP park, but shifted to the stadium when they heard that Kiran Bedi was detained there.

Students with painted faces wearing "India against corruption" t-shirts spilled on to the road when the group gained strength.

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