Protests continue over Indian activist’s arrest

Mr Hazare’s aide said he would continue his hunger strike in prison and would leave only after he was given permission to continue his fast in the city park.

Hundreds of people held an overnight vigil in support of Anna Hazare outside the Tihar jail in Delhi, waving the flag and chanting “down with corruption”.

‘Totally misconceived’

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh criticised the anti-corruption campaigner as “totally misconceived”.

Opposition ministers tried to shout down the Prime Minister as he condemned the campaign in a speech to Parliament.

The path that he has chosen to impose a draft of the bill on parliament is totally misconceived. Manmohan Singh, Indian Prime Minister

“I acknowledge that Anna Hazare may be inspired by high ideals.

“However, the path that he has chosen to impose a draft of the bill on parliament is totally misconceived,” he said.

‘Continuing the fight’

Activists said they would continue to protest until Hazare’s demands for tougher anti-corruption laws were met.

“The presence of public outside this jail and in other places across India proves that there is a movement of change in the entire country. This is a message to the government and this is the fight between the people and the government,” Medha Patkar said.

One businessman said the protests were not blaming any one government, but the endemic problems ingrained in Indian culture.

There is a movement of change in the entire country. This is a message to the government and this is the fight between the people and the government. Medha Patkar, Hazare supporter

“I think the country needs this. Anna Hazare’s movement is not against the ruling party, it is against the system because successive governments have been corrupt, governments in states have been corrupt, governments in the centre have been corrupt, not just this present government,” Captain Gopinath said.

He said: “We all know this and we all have suffered. I think all of us are also responsible for this because we did not have the courage to fight it. We have sometimes given bribe or accepted bribe, we have benefited. We had no alternative except to succumb to it,” he said.

Widespread protests

More protests were expected across India on Wednesday as rickshaw drivers planned to strike.

Mr Hazare was arrested on Tuesday morning, hours before beginning his fast against a proposed new anti-corruption law.

At least 1,200 followers of the 74-year-old were also detained, signalling a hardline stance from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh against anti-government protests, a gamble that risks a wider backlash against the ruling Congress party.

The arrests shocked many Indians who remember Gandhi’s independence battles against colonial rule with fasts and non-violent protests.

Movement growing?

Many are now asking whether Hazare’s movement will grow in the nation of 1.2 billion people as the increasingly assertive middle class becomes fed up with bribes, poor services and unaccountable leaders.

Hazare first went on a hunger strike in April and won concessions from the government. He called off that fast after the government promised to introduce a bill creating a special ombudsman to bring corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and judges to justice.

But the legislation, which was presented in early August, was criticised as toothless because the prime minister and judges were exempt from probes.