Jammu, Aug 16: Detention of noted Gandhian and social activist Anna Hazare on Tuesday sparked off protests in the winter capital of the state with civil society, lawyers and political groups slamming the Congress- led UPA government for “suppressing” the democratic protests.
The protestors described the Delhi Police action as “unconstitutional” and demanded his immediate release.
As the news of Hazare’s detention spread, his supporters and several political leaders held protests and dharnas (sit-in) demonstrations across the city in protest against his arrest in New Delhi early Tuesday morning. Lawyers in Jammu and Kashmir High Court (Jammu wing) suspended the judicial work and staged a dharna in the court premises to express their anguish over the “unconstitutional” arrest of Gandhian and his team.
“We condemn the Police action to suppress the corruption movement launched by Anna Hazare. Government will have to face its consequences,” Bar Association Jammu (BAJ) president B S Slathia said, adding “In a democratic set-up, every citizen has the right to express his resentment or disagreement on any issue. Anna’s arrest was purely unconstitutional and undemocratic.”
A large number of RTI activists, civil society members and political leaders assembled near Exhibition Ground and held a strong protest against the Delhi police’s “highhandedness at the behest of UPA government”. The demonstration was held under the banner of Jammu and Kashmir Sangrash Movement, an organisation spearheading RTI awareness among people.
Former member parliament and Samajwadi Party state chief Sheikh Abdul Rehman, who was the part of the protest, said, “Jammu is fully backing Anna and the Lokpal Bill. Police and the Central government have done an unconstitutional act by arresting Anna, who was peacefully protesting over Lokpal. What type of democracy are we talking about? It is totally autocracy, and emergency seems to be back.”
Sangarsh convenor Balvinder Singh remarked, “It was the murder of democracy. The Gandhian and his team were heading for a peaceful and non-violent protest when they were arrested by the police. Lakhs of people attend political rallies of Congress in New Delhi but the party never followed rules. The frustrated Congress has restored to repressive measures which will lead to further chaos in the society.”
“This is the right time for revolution. Anna has rightly said that it is the second freedom struggle of the country. Politicians in our country are scared because they are involved in deep-rooted corruption,” an angry society member said.
Rajiv Chuni, president SOS International said, “The UPA government must understand that such repressive measures would not yield anything. Hazare’s arrest was unconstitutional and illegal. It is murder of democracy.”
Jammu and Kashmir Nirbhow Nirvair Organisation (NNO) activists also took to streets and staged a demonstration against Gandhian Anna’s arrest.
“Have our countrymen lost their civil rights? It is unacceptable and no Indian will tolerate this kind of suppression. Our protests will continue till the government accepts the demand of strong Lokpal Bill,” NNO president Harjinder Singh told reporters here.
Anna supporters also blocked the traffic at Satwari Chowk on Jammu-Srinagar highway and raised slogans against the UPA government. They lambasted the government for putting forth a ‘weak’ Lokpal Bill in the Parliament without taking the Prime Minister and Judges under its ambit.
“We will intensify the protests if Anna is not released. We will court arrest in a large number as Anna is the face of common man,” said Om Prakash Sharma, who sat on a fast-unto-death at the Satwari Chowk, holding Hazare's picture and the tricolour.
“Instead of fighting against corruption, the government is now fighting against Anna,” he said. He however alleged that police ‘forcibly’ evicted from Satwari chowk and did not allow him to sit on fast.
Rallies in support of Anna were also held at Purani Mandi Chowk, Janipur Chowk, Manda Belt, Muthi, Gandhi Nagar and Gangyal area of the city by various social, trade and community organisations.
The protesters demanded that Hazare should be released immediately and a strong Lokpal Bill be adopted by the Parliament by including PM and Judges under its ambit. BJP spokesperson S Arora said the government had turned “autocratic” and taken an unconstitutional step by arresting Anna.
The activists of the Shiv Sena wearing chains held a march in the old city area. “We demand that Anna should be released immediately. The government should tender apology to the people of country and Anna for his arrest,” party state chief Ashok Gupta said.
Condemning the “undemocratic action” on Anna Hazare, BJP state president Shamsher Singh Manhas said that incident had reminded the nation of “emergency” days.
“It has become customary with the Congress leaders to adopt every undemocratic mean to suppress the voice of nationalist people as well as those adopting non-violent and non-provocative path for the redressal of their grievances,” Manhas said in a statement here.
Manhas said that the way Hazare was arrested by Delhi Police could not be justified by any yard-stick.
“It is even against the spirit of constitution, which allows every individual to protest or observe hunger strike in a peaceful manner. Anna Hazare was not going to commit any crime, rather it is the Congress-led government at the Centre which has been committing one blunder after the other with the sole motive of harassing the people who term the prevailing corruption as a disease and ask for stern action against corrupt elements in the country,” he said.
National Panthers Party (NPP) chief Bhim Singh urged the Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh for his urgent intervention to end the “draconian police custody” of Anna Hazare who was detained “illegally, unconstitutionally and for malafide reasons”.
“Arrest of a social activist in defiance of his fundamental rights of expression and speech is highly condemnable and the Prime Minister should act in haste to set Hazare at liberty,” Singh said in a statement.
He, however, sought clarification from Hazare and his team whether the law of the Parliament relating to Lokpal would be applicable to Jammu and Kashmir.
People Democratic Party (PDP) also made a scathing attack on the Congress led UPA government for arresting social activist Anna Hazare.
Talking to the media persons here, PDP leader Vikram Singh said the arrest of Hazare was “unconstitutional and undemocratic”.
Taking strong exception to Hazare’s detention, Shri Ram Sena state president Rajiv Mahajan has appealed the people to come forward and joined the movement against corruption in the country.
“Hazare is a leading star in the country against corruption and he needs support of all people who want the country to move forward with greater progress,” SRS president Rajiv Mahajan said in a statement here.
All J&K Movement for Peace and Justice also condemned the government for “harassing” the crusaders against the corruption like Anna Hazare.
“The way Baba Ramdev’s protest rally at Ramlila Ground was thwarted through use of force and undemocratic action to curb the Hazare’s peaceful movement invited the attention of entire world to what was happening to the civil society in India,” it said.
It appealed the general public including students and employees to lend whole-hearted support to this anti-corruption crusade.

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