Mumbai: Anna Hazare and his team of activists can't find a suitable venue for his or her protest in Mumbai, which starts on December 27. Their first choice - the city's MMRDA Ground - costs 3.77 lakhs each day. Team Anna says it will not pay these "five-star" rates, even if supporters donate generously for their cause. So they took the Maharashtra government to the court, demanding discounted rates. A verdict is anticipated later today, but the court's observations so far seem to suggest bad news for Team Anna.
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Anna will start his hunger strike against what he describes like a weak Lokpal Bill on December 27, the day when parliament will debate the balance. "The bill is being debated in parliament...a parallel discussion of the bill can't be justified," said the court.
Anna's group states that they have the right to peaceful protest. And also the 74-year-old Gandhian said, unperturbed, "I will fast in jail. There is lots of space there." He also known his epic fast in August in Delhi, when he needed to fight the government to hold his massive sit-in at Ramlila Maidan. In a massive miscalculation, the federal government had arrested him. As he left of jail, thousands attended his camp.
Anna decided to hold his fast in Mumbai this month because of the biting cold in the capital. Being an option to the MMRDA Ground, Anna's team may use Azad Maidan - the venue made available through the government for protests. But the demarcated space for public protests can accommodate 3000 people. Anna and the Mumbai police expect a daily turnout of 30,000. A huge section of Azad Maidan lies with the Sports Department whose officials have rejected Anna's request to make use of this space for his hunger strike.
The Sports Department states that a legal court has not allowed the part it controls to become provided for public protests. Officials also say that their section includes 22 cricket pitches, which tournaments are scheduled for the end of the season.
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Law enforcement has warned the state government that with no additional space at Azad Maidan, the crowds will spill onto the roads, causing a complete shut-down of South Mumbai on work days. The police has also pointed out that because of the ground's proximity to important offices and buildings such as the municipal corporation, it's important that roads be keep free of traffic jams and enormous groups of people.
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