BJP questions PM's non-intervention in conditions on Anna Hazare's fast

Terming the conditions imposed on Anna Hazare's proposed indefinite fast as "violation of fundamental rights", BJP today asked why Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was not intervening in the matter.

"There may be differences in opinions, but every one has a right to protest. The conditions on Anna Hazare's fast are violation of our fundamental rights... This is an abuse of freedom of speech. Why the Prime Minister cannot intervene in this, when the fundamental rights are being violated?," BJP president Nitin Gadkari told reporters in Delhi.

Hazare had sought Manmohan Singh's intervention over the strict conditions imposed by Delhi Police for his indefinite fast from August 16, but the Prime Minister responded that his grievances needed to be "addressed by the statutory authorities who have taken the decision... My office does not in any way get involved in the decision-making process."

Delhi police conditions limit Hazare's protest to maximum of three days and assembly of 5,000 people.

Gadkari said the crackdown on yoga guru Ramdev and his supporters at Ramlila maidan, the recent police action against BJP youth-wing workers and now conditions on Hazare's fast remind him of Emergency days.