Cong sees foreign hand behind Anna

Unable to control the swelling crowds supporting Anna Hazare’s campaign against corruption, the Congress party on Wednesday turned to the usual suspects for allegedly trying to destabilise a country making rapid progress.

“Anna Hazare has no organisation and no resources. And yet, we see coordinated text messages going out, synchronised movement of people. But he is alone. So, who is behind him? The Prime Minister has hinted at other forces. In the last 65 years, several countries have got freedom. None of them have advanced as rapidly as India. But never in 65 years has the US ever told India that a particular movement is good or bad, or that it should or should not be crushed. Why is the US so interested in what is happening in India?” asked Rashid Alvi, spokesman for the Congress. When asked if he was naming the US as the country behind the Anna Hazare movement, he said: “There are grounds for doubts and suspicion. We should find out which forces are backing this movement”.

Party MP from Orissa, Bhakta Charan Das put the movement down to corporate lobbies and urged reporters to find the names of those who had contributed financially to the organisation spearheading the movement called ‘India Against Corruption’.

It was clear that party leader Rahul Gandhi’s intervention on Tuesday night, leading to orders to the Delhi police and Tihar jail authorities that Hazare be freed, had sent the government’s plan completely out of kilter. Negotiations were on till late in the evening not just to free Anna Hazare, but offer him his own terms. Not only the venue but how many people would attend the fast, for how long and how many vehicles would accompany the protesters, etc, were discussed by Hazare's supporters and representatives of Delhi police. Delhi’s Ramlila ground was one possibility but till late evening, the Delhi administration had given no clearance for any venue.

Hazare is adamant on continuing his hunger strike indefinitely but Neeraj Kumar, director general prisons, and Ashok Chand, deputy commissioner crime branch, who are talking to him on behalf of the government, have agreed to permit a hunger strike for seven days. The government has taken back all the restrictions, including limiting the number of people and vehicles. The only restriction is on the use of loudspeakers, which must stop after 10 pm.

“Anna Hazare is free to go wherever he wants to. The permission to hold a fast at Jai Prakash Narain park will be decided by the Delhi police,” said RK Singh, home secretary.

The crowd outside Tihar jail swelled dramatically on Wednesday. By the evening, nearly 30,000 people shifted to Jantar Mantar. They conducted a demonstration alongside BJP supporters who wore black strips of cloth across their faces. Speaking to Business Standard, BJP leader L K Advani refuted his party or the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh were behind the agitation. “We don’t understand a fast unto death. We don’t support it. But if someone is saying end corruption, how can you disagree with it?”