Court to decide on Anna's fast venue

Although Anna Hazare appears firm about his plan to go on a hunger strike from December 27, the noted social crusader still remains venue-less for his proposed agitation in Mumbai.

The first choice of Team Anna – decided upon on advice of Mumbai Police – was the MMRDA grounds in Bandra-Kurla complex but given the steep rent of Rs 19 lakhs being demanded by the authorities, the venue has turned out to be ‘too expensive’.

India Against Corruption (IAC) demanded from the state government that a waiver be announced considering the fact that the ground is not being rented out for any ‘commercial’ purpose. Anna’s movement is a people’s movement and hence should qualify for an exemption, IAC asserted.

The IAC, in a statement said, "It appears that the CM is not giving Annaji the exemption for MMRDA. Andolan will be at Azad Maidan. IAC is going ahead with providing intimation to concerned authorities."

Importantly, IAC has filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court against the MMRDA and Maharashtra government for not granting the waiver. MMRDA protests site to be given for agitation beginning December 27.

Anna himself is against a ‘five-star’ protest, hence other options are being looked at.

However, the most feasible other option, Azad Maidan, is also not likely to be made available for Anna’s agitation as some portion of it is under control of the state’s Sports Department. However, further complicating things for Team Anna, the Deputy Director of the Sports Department has denied permission to use the ground for Anna’s fast.

Azad Maidan is also inadequate for Anna’s mass movement since the ground can accommodate only 3000-4000 people as compared to an estimated one lakh people that can easily fit into the MMRDA grounds.

With things not falling in line for Team Anna, the social crusader has warned that he will go to jail and launch his agitation from there if he does not get any suitable venue for his fast.

He also accused the government of deliberately complicating things for Team Anna while speaking to reporters today.

Anna Hazare plans to sit on a fast from Dec 27-29 in Mumbai, while the Parliament in Delhi debates the Lokpal Bill. In the eventuality of the bill not getting passed Anna would head to Delhi and launch a’ jail bharo’ andolan.