Wednesday August 17, 2011 01:02:07 PM, IANS

New Delhi: The government had a "bounden duty" to maintain peace, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Wednesday as protests continued over the arrest of social activist Anna Hazare ahead of his planned fast-unto-death for a more powerful Lokpal bill.

Accepting the demand of the opposition, the prime minister made a statement in the Lok Sabha on the arrest and subsequent release of Hazare. Hazare refused to be released and continued to remain inside the Tihar Jail Wednesday morning.

He said it was his painful duty to report on Hazare's arrest and added that every citizen had the right to hold peaceful protest but there was a way to do it.

"Anna Hazare-ji insisted that their version of Lokpal Bill be passed. Delhi government was forced to impose the restrictions to maintain law and order situation," he said.

The prime minister said the Lokpal Bill must be passed as early as possible but the debate is about who makes the law.

Detailing the reasons that led to Delhi Police arresting him, the prime minister said he "sincerely hoped that the incidents of yesterday will not be repeated".

He appealed for the smooth functioning of parliament and said important legislations needed to be passed. If that were not done, it would be an injustice to the people of India.

Manmohan Singh was constantly heckled by the opposition and at several times had to pause in the reading out of the statement.

The prime minister later read out the statement in the Rajya Sabha too.

 

Home | Top of the Page

Top Stories

Hazare released but refuses to come out of jail

Social activist Anna Hazare has been released from his cell in Tihar Jail but is in talks with senior jail officials demanding an "unconditional release", an official of the prison   »

Kiran Bedi, Shanti Bhushan released

Anna detention: Both houses of Parliament adjourned for day

Anna Hazare in Judicial custody, sent to Tihar Jail

  Most Read

Rahul Gandhi intervened to get Team Hazare release order

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Tuesday evening met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and discussed the situation arising out of the arrest of social activist Anna Hazare. According   »

A full-blown information warfare has broken out between Team Anna and the government, with both sides deploying social media tools, SMS and e-mail campaigns to drum up support and run down each other  »

Activists divided: For and against Hazare

  News Pick

Hazare arrested for defying police orders: Chidambaram

Gandhian Anna Hazare was arrested Tuesday for refusing to abide by conditions imposed by police regarding his proposed hunger  »

An anti-corruption crusader and Right to Information activist, Shehla Masood, was Tuesday shot dead outside her residence here, police said. Masood was in her car in Koh-e-Fiza area when she was shot in the neck, Inspector  »

Terming the Centre's assurance of keeping madrasas out of the ambit of Right to Education as misleading, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has announced to continue with its  »

He earned laurels from international film critics and experts when in his film he campaigned   »

Picture of the Day

Dignitaries coming out from the Red Fort after Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh addressed to the Nation on the occasion of 65th Independence Day, in Delhi on August 15, 2011.

(Photo: BM Meena)