Prime Minister’s Reply to Shri Anna Hazare’s letter

Prime Minister’s Reply to Shri Anna Hazare’s letter
Following is the text of Prime Minister’s reply to Shri Anna Hazare’s letter dated 14th August, 2011:

“I have received your letter, carrying the date 14th August, 2011 and carefully read its contents.

Your grievance that the police has given you permission to protest and go on fast at JP Park only for three days needs to be addressed by the statutory authorities who have taken that decision. My Office does not in any way get involved in the decision-making process. The terms and conditions on which you are entitled to carry on with your protest are decided by the statutory authorities concerned taking into account the prevailing circumstances and other relevant factors.

I would request you to address your grievances to the statutory authorities concerned. We are all committed to the Constitution of India and to uphold it both in letter and spirit.”
MMS-Man-Mohan-Singh

Anna Hazare team-:wrote
15.07.2011 Letter dated 15.7.2011, informing that Shri Anna Hazare will be sitting on Indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar from 16 August given to DCP, Parliament Street Police Station from India Against Corruption (IAC).

18.07.2011 Letter dated 18.07.2011 received from Delhi Police. They cited the judgment of Supreme Court and said that permission for procession/rally/dharna/protest is subject to certain terms and conditions which are based on guidelines laid down by Supreme Court, further they also stated that as parliament session is in progress and large number of organization would want to hold the protest at same place and equitable distribution of space should be done, therefore limited number of people will be allowed to come for protest and no indefinite fast shall be allowed. They asked clarification on two issues:
i) Duration of Fast
ii) Number of People attending the fast

27.07.2011 Earlier Delhi Police asked IAC to take NOC from the Land Owning agency subsequently Letter to NDMC for NOC was given.
29.07.2011 In response to the Delhi Police letter dated 18.07.2011, IAC wrote a letter in which clarification as required by the Delhi Police regarding the duration of fast and number of people attending the fast was given. It was reiterated that fast would be indefinite and number people cannot be specified considering the amount of support to Anna Ji.

1.08.2011 Letter written to Delhi Police asking the venue (Jantar-Mantar) for atleast one month.
2.08.2011 In response to IAC letter dated 15.07.2011 and 29.07.2011, Delhi Police finally denied the permission to hold Indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar stating that Jantar Mantar has very limited space and we have not clearly stated the duration of our protest.

2.08.2011 In response to Delhi Police letter dated 2.08.2011, IAC wrote a letter to the Commissioner Delhi Police and copy also given to DCP Central District and Addl. Commissioner New Delhi Dist. Stating that many other groups have been granted the permission to protest at Jantar Mantar then why can’t permission be given to us. Moreover IAC has submitted that proposed fast will be one month long then there it is unjustified to reject saying that we have not defined the time limit. Despite IAC not being convinced by the arguments given by the Delhi police, IAC suggested four other venues to be considered by the Delhi Police for the proposed fast:

1.Boat Cub
2.Raj Ghat
3.Ramlila Maidan
4.Shaheed Park

We stated that if none of these are acceptable to you, then we are ready to come and discuss with you any alternative venue for the proposed fast which should be within 3 Kms range of Jantar Mantar and is well connected by public transport - bus and Metro.