Team Anna files petition in Bombay HC seeking place for fast

IAC had written to Maha CM earlier to reduce the protest space rent

PTI | December 23, 2011



Suspense continued on Thursday over the venue of Anna Hazare's proposed 3-day fast from December 27 with NGO Jagruk Nagrik Manch filing a writ petition in the Bombay high court seeking direction to the state government to allot a place for the protest.

The petition is likely to come up for hearing on Friday.

"Maharashtra government is not giving us a place to protest peacefully so we had to file this petition with the Bombay high court," Himanshu Shah, who looks after legal matters of India Against Corruption, spearheading Hazare's anti-graft protests in Mumbai, told PTI.

Jagruk Nagrik Manch is an affiliate of IAC.

"When we wanted Azad maidan, we were told that we cannot sit there beyond 6 pm, and when we wanted MMRDA grounds we were asked to pay up in lakhs. We don't have that kind of money as we are a non profit making organization," he said, adding "This seems to be an attempt by the Delhi to ensure that we don't protest."

Maintaining that Rs 3.5 lakh per day rent for MMRDA ground for Anna Hazare's fast was too steep, Team Anna had sought state government's intervention for lowering it.

IAC, which got the permission to rent the MMRDA ground here to host the next leg of Anna Hazare's anti-corruption campaign, had on Tuesday written to chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, requesting for waiver or reduction of rent. However, the government's response is still awaited.

Earlier in the day, key Hazare aide Arvind Kejriwal had told a press conference in Ghaziabad that the anti-graft crusader will fast at Azad Maidan.

Meanwhile, an IAC spokesperson said that a decision on finalising Azad Maidan as the venue for Hazare's fast would be taken tomorrow.

"Currently, we have been offered Azad Maidan subject to certain conditions to be told to us tomorrow morning following which a final call would be taken," the spokesperson said.

Comments

 

Other News

Who checks the books?

I read about the news about the Coimbatore library over coffee this morning. On the face of it, the headline was about a political ‘war’ between the DMK and TVK. But what stayed with me was something much more important than the blame game behind what had transpired. A writer walking through

Development paradox: Falling poverty miracle and an inequality problem

India’s reduction in poverty over the past decade is a development achievement of considerable significance. The World Bank’s April 2026 ‘India Development Update’ estimates that the share of Indians living below the international extreme-poverty line of $3.00 per person per day i

In Arunachal, a river we call mother

In Arunachal Pradesh, the Siang is not just a river. For many of us, especially the Adi people, it is part of our family. Our grandparents fished in it. Children learned to swim in it. Our farms drink from it. When someone says a huge dam will be built on it, we do not hear the word "project".

A new retelling of the Mahabharata delves into key moments

In a time when every decision carries consequences and questions of ambition, power, loyalty, identity and moral choice continue to shape our lives, Dr. Arun Krishnan’s new book, ‘Mahakshana’ (Penguin India) offers a strikingly relevant retelling of the Mahabharata.  

Cabinet approves viability gap funding to develop grid-scale energy storage systems

The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, has approved the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme for Development of Grid-Scale Energy Storage Systems, with a total financial support of Rs.14,500 crore for the period FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31. The scheme aims to support the development o

Cabinet creates a pathway to absorb Agniveers in Defence Forces

An objective assessment in terms of organisational requirements and operational efficiency has brought out the outstanding performance of Agniveers in terms of skills, motivation levels, physical fitness and technological prowess. As envisaged earlier, based on merit, 25% of Agniveers will be offered reg

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter