Anna inspired by high ideals but path misconceived: PM

Facing criticism over the arrest of Anna Hazare,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh came out strongly in defence of the Delhi Police action.

Facing criticism over the arrest of Anna Hazare,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday came out strongly in defence of the Delhi Police action,saying those were minimum steps necessary to maintain peace and in asserted that the social activist was trying to impose the draft of his Jan Lokpal Bill upon Parliament which was totally misconceived and fraught with grave consequences for Parliamentary democracy.

Making a statement in both Houses of Parliament a demand made by a united Opposition Tuesday Singh said his government does not seek any confrontation,but when some sections of society deliberately challenge the authority of the government and the prerogative of Parliament,it is the bounden duty of the government to maintain peace and tranquility.

Amid disruptions by the Opposition,Singh said his government acknowledges the citizens right to peaceful protests. He pointed out that notwithstanding introduction of the Lokpal Bill in Parliament,Hazare and his team continued to demand that their Bill be introduced and passed.

In the process of adoption of the Bill,there will be opportunities for Hazare and others to present their views to the Standing Committee to which this Bill has been referred8230; The committee as well as Parliament can modify the Bill if they so desire. However,I am not aware of any constitutional philosophy or principle that allows any one to question the sole prerogative of Parliament to make a law, he said.

Asserting that the government has faithfully adhered to the well-settled principles in making the Lokpal law,he said,Hazare questions these principles and claims a right to impose his Bill upon Parliament.

I acknowledge that Anna Hazare may be inspired by high ideals in his campaign to set up a strong and effective Lokpal. However,the path he has chosen to impose his draft upon Parliament is totally misconceived and fraught with grave consequences for our Parliamentary democracy, the Prime Minister said.

On Hazares arrest,he said a democracy must allow multiple voices to be heard,but differences of opinion must be resolved thorough dialogue and consensus. Those who believe their voice and their voice alone represents the will of 1.2 billion people should reflect deeply on that position. They must allow the elected representatives of people in Parliament to do the job they were elected for, he said.

Story continues below this ad

He said the arrest came after the police came to a conclusion that Hazare and his supporters would commit a cognizable offence and there was a likelihood of breach of peace.

Delhi Police8230; took the minimum steps necessary to maintain peace and tranquillity, the Prime Minister said. Hazare and his supporters would have been allowed to hold their protest if they accepted the conditions under which the permission was granted8230;.

He added that the police decided to review its order when it came to its knowledge that Hazare intended to move the Supreme Court,which was reasonable ground to believe he had opted to seek legal remedies and his release would not pose any breach of peace.