New Delhi:
Anna Hazare wants to know if you're willing to go to jail. The 74-year-old activist is unleashing a civil disobedience movement and wants people to court arrest to protest against the government for introducing a Lokpal Bill that he finds weak.
"Register for Jail bharo. National registration process is Sms <jail><city/zilla> to 575758 or call 07303150500 or www.jailchalo.com," key Team Anna member Kiran bedi wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.
Today, 74-year-old Anna will also decide on the venue of his hunger strike in Mumbai, which starts on December 27. A court will decide if the activist and his aides are entitled to a discounted rental of the MMRDA Ground. The government has told Team Anna to pay 3.77 lakhs per day for the three-day camp.
The state sports department on Friday denied permission to fast in Azad Maidan. Anna's Plan B was to use Azad Maidan, which had the police worried because they anticipate crowds to average 30,000 people. Any spill from Azad Maidan to the streets would shut down this part of south Mumbai on working days.
The Mumbai Police wanted Team Anna to get special permission for a section of Azad Maidan, which is controlled by the state sports department, to be made available as well. However, that has been denied now. The police had also pointed out that given Azad Maidan's proximity to important offices and buildings like the municipal corporation, it's important that roads be keep free of traffic jams and large groups of people.