Ramlila crackdown: Anna Hazare to move Supreme Court

Citing the police crackdown on Ramdev and his supporters at Ramlila Ground, activist Anna Hazare on Sunday approached the Supreme Court seeking its intervention so as to ensure that the government does not suppress his fast on Lokpal issue beginning on August 16. Mr. Hazare tld the reporters that they are going to approach the Supreme Court as the government said they will suppress the agitation of Anna Hazare as had been done in the cse of Baba Ramdev. Holding that the Constitution has given right to every citizen to protest democratically. Anna Hazare said he will launch his indefinite fast here from August 16 as announced. He said "The Constitution has given right to every citizen to lodge a protest. And they will launch the agitation from August 16". Mr. Anna Hazare has been demanding that the Prime Minister be brought under the ambit of Lokpal Bill which was opposed by the Government. After nine meetings spread over two months, the joint drafting committee of the two sides concluded its deliberations on a note of disagreement with the government asserting that it could not allow creation of a parallel structure which would be "answerable to nobody". An all-party meet on Lokpal earlier this month had agreed that a "strong and effective" bill be brought in the Monsson Session of Parliament wth consensus that supremacy of parliament and established procedures be maintained. Reported by        AR