mastani mastani: Cornered govt to release Anna from Tihar after public backlash

By punemsexesena : Protests all over India brought the UPA government to its knees on Tuesday night, forcing a decision to release social activist Anna Hazare barely hours after he had been sent to Tihar Jail for seven days.

Anna Hazare and some of his close associates were arrested earlier in the day after they made it clear they would defy all prohibitory orders and carry on an indefinite fast demanding a strong Lokpal Bill.

The 73-year-old Gandhian was picked up at 7.30 am from a flat where he was staying in Mayur Vihar in East Delhi after he refused to be persuaded by Delhi Police officials against the fast, in violation of prohibitory orders that were imposed last night.

Anna Hazare had even refused food in Tihar, indicating he would carry on his fast in jail.

Hazare and his aides including, Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kejriwal, were first taken to the Delhi Police Officers' Mess in North Delhi and were shifted to another after Hazare's supporters gathered in large numbers at Civil Lines.

Nearly 1,400 activists were detained in various parts of the city when they came out in support of Hazare, who had planned to launch the fast at Jai Prakash Narain Park near Ferozeshah Kotla.

The social activist, who is campaigning for a legislation that will cover the Prime Minister, higher judiciary and MPs' conduct within Parliament among other things, was later taken to Rajouri Garden police station in West Delhi where a Special Executive Magistrate remanded him to 7 days judicial custody.

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