Anna calls for 'Jail Bharo'

New Delhi, Aug 15 (PTI) Social activist Anna Hazare is
all set for a full blown confrontation with the government on
the Lokpal bill(anti-corruption ombudsman bill), giving a call
to his supporters to fill up jails across the country if he is
arrested Tuesday after being denied permission to hold fast
here and prohibitory orders clamped.
Addressing a press conference Monday after Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh slammed him for resorting to fast as a protest
when Parliament was seized of the Lokpal bill, the Gandhian
said he will go to J P park Tuesday, the venue of his fast
despite Delhi police imposing prohibitory orders.
"I come to understand that I will be refused permission.
We will go there. If I am arrested, I will continue my hunger
strike in the jail. If I am released, I will go back to the
venue and this circle will continue," he said at a 30-minute
press conference that came to an end to coincide with his
"lights-off" call throughout the country from 8 pm.
He said once he is arrested, people should fill up the
jails in every village across the country. "Going to jail for
the country is no crime...It is a decoration," he said.
Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said prohibitory
orders under Section 144 CrPC has been imposed in some areas
of Daryaganj and IP police stations, which include Jai Prakash
Narain Park and Shaheed Park.
Hazare accused the Prime Minister of "speaking" the
language of his ministerial colleague Kapil Sibal, saying the
Lokpal bill was before Parliament which will take the call.
Before his press conference, the 73-year-old anti-
corruption crusader made an unscheduled visit to Rajghat,
where he sat in meditation. Hundreds of supporters gathered at
Mahatma Gandhi Samadhi soon after Hazare's move caught Delhi
police by surprise.
Earlier in the day, Delhi Police refused permission to
Gandhian and his supporters saying that Team Hazare have
refused to give an undertaking on restricting the number of
days of protest and protesters besides four other conditions.
Hazare's fellow activist Arvind Kejriwal said Team Anna
feels he and some civil society members could be arrested
tonight or tomorrow and asked his supporters to keep the
protest movement going if they are picked up.