Author: Correspondent
Publication: NDTV.com
Date: August 16, 2011
URL: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/anna-hazare-arrested-nda-to-meet-to-plan-strategy-against-govt-126788?from=NDTV
With the confrontation between Anna Hazare
and the government reaching a crescendo with the former's detention and subsequent
arrest today ahead of his second indefinite fast, the Opposition is now mulling
its options to corner the government over what is fast becoming a major political
issue.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led
by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will meet today to work out a clear strategy
to take on the government over Mr Hazare and the Lokpal Bill.
The NDA may raise the issue of denial of civil
rights, especially after the 74-year-old Gandhian was denied permission by
the Delhi Police to go ahead with his fast.
With his arrest today, the Opposition could
also attack the government for trying to suppress voices against corruption.
Mr Hazare along with other civil society activists has been demanding a tougher
Jan Lokpal Bill (Citizens' Ombudsman Bill) to tackle corruption in public
places. Team Anna, as they are known, has also been pressing for the inclusion
of the Prime Minister under the ambit of the Lokpal. The government though
didn't pay heed to their suggestions as it excluded the PM in its version
of the Bill that was introduced in the Parliament on August 4.
The NDA could again raise the demand for the
PM's inclusion in the controversial Bill.
The Opposition's plan to target the government
over the ongoing crisis was also reflected in BJP president Nitin Gadkari's
statement who told NDTV that his party could consider joining Mr Hazare's
fast if the latter invited them to do so.
The government's current confrontation with
Team Anna over the Lokpal Bill has just provided further ammunition to a belligerent
Opposition which has been targeting the Centre over a slew of corruption cases.
