Anna Hazare fast unjustified

Government on Friday said that Anna Hazare's plan to go on fast from August 16 on Lokpal issue is unjustified at this stage, when it is moving forward on the passage of the bill. Home Minister P Chidambarm on Friday said this in response to a question that how the government views Hazare's proposed agitation at a time when the draft bill for Lokpal is being deliberated before the Standing Committee.
Mr. Chidamabram noted that everybody has a right to protest and the context and circumstances will decide whether the protest was right or not. He said Hazare team's earlier fast, when the Lokpal bill was not in place, was perhaps right but not now when a bill has already been introduced in Parliament and the government has moved forward on it.
Addressing a press briefing of the Group of Ministers on Media, the Union Minister said that the government's draft Lokpal bill will receive many suggestions in the Standing Committee as well as in Parliament from the opposition parties and some of these may also be accommodated.
To queries about the delay in permission to Hazare to hold fast and how the government intends to tackle the stir, the Home Minister said that the matter rests with Delhi Police Commissioner and the government was not tackling or pushing any one.
In reply to another question, the Home Minister categorically denied the lathicharge on BJP youth workers' protest in Delhi on 9 th of this month. He said only water canon were used to stop the protesters.
Mr Chidambaram said formal talks with ULFA leaders will start soon. He expressed the hope that the Centre’s peace talks with Ulfa will be carried forward in a positive manner. He said that ULFA faction headed by Arabinda Rajkhowa met him in the presence of Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi some days before. >