Former IPS officer and civil society leader Kiran Bedi has said that the civil society movement for Janlokpal will officially seek permission for Wednesday’s fast near Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
Jantar Mantar is the official protest venue for political groups, and Baba Ramdev was criticised by the Government for not holding his dharna there.
However, Anna Hazare and his group of protesters have now come up against another order — imposing a prohibition on collective protests under Section 144 — in Central Delhi.
“We will ask for a permission.. If it doesn’t come, we will take a view on whether to court arrest or call off the fast,” Bedi said.
Under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), the government bans all assembly of people with five or more members, holding of public meetings, and carrying of firearms and can be invoked for up to two months.
Section 144 was imposed yesterday in New Delhi district — the central part of Delhi — to prevent supporters of Ramdev Baba was holding follow-on protests after he was forcible evicted out of the Ramlila grounds.
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