New Delhi, August 26
In a major incident of hooliganism in the name of protest, a group of drunken men beat up a policeman outside the Ramlila Maidan last night after they were stopped from entering the ground from the VIP gate.

According to the police, two of these men have been arrested and their medical examination has revealed that they were under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.

"It was a group of seven-eight men, all residents of the Daryaganj area. They came to the Ramlila Maidan drunk and tried to enter from the VIP gate reserved for senior police officials and members of Team Anna. When stopped by security officials, they slapped a policeman," said a senior police official. He added that the victim policeman was unarmed and showed high restraint. It was only when an additional police force reached the spot that these men tried to run away. However, two of them were arrested.

"We have sent a report in this regard to the home ministry today and the decision to arm the security officials at the Ramlila Maidan has been left to its consideration," said a senior police official when asked why the policemen were not armed to handle such a situation firmly.

The police has also brought the incident to the attention of the organisers of Anna's fast, and according to the police, they have asked it to take any action they think fit to deal with such persons.

Many incidents of drunken-ruckus have been reported from the Ramlila Maidan during the night.

"Not only are there incidents of eve-teasing, but minor ruckus among drunken men and others are reported almost every day," said a police official present at the Ramlila Maidan, requesting anonymity. The security at the Ramlila Maidan has been increased and more policemen are expected to be present during the night.

Meanwhile, besides Ramlila Maidan, hooliganism under the garb of Anna's support continues on Delhi roads. Youngsters are seen violating traffic rules every day and night.

"The youngsters come out of their houses in the night on the pretext of going to the Ramlila Maidan, but roam on roads on bikes without helmets and perform dangerous stunts," said a traffic policeman who witnessed a bike stunt near India Gate last night. According to Rajan Bhagat, spokesperson of the Delhi police, actions are being taken against traffic violators and many were arrested last night.

"The activities of bikers are in our knowledge and several people were arrested from India Gate and other areas of the central district last night. The traffic police has been instructed to maintain a strict vigil on the roads and book the violators," said Bhagat. 

New Delhi, August 26
For all the people who are taking Anna's anti-corruption movement as a party-time by indulging in alcoholism, drunken driving, traffic violations and creating nuisance on the roads, team Anna today denounced them and said they were not the part of the campaign.

While addressing the supporters at the Ramlila Maidan, Anna's team members sent out a clear message that the hooligans doing violence on the roads wearing Anna's caps are not part of the fight against corruption.

"Reports are coming up about people shouting slogans against politicians and persons in particular. We want to request such people not to spoil the environment as it may damage the cause of entire movement. The purpose of our campaign is not against any politician or any particular person," said Arvind Kerjriwal, one of Anna's team members.

"And we want to warn people against creating nuisance on the roads and indulging in violence. If any one sees any person giving trouble to others on the roads, he may straight away call the police. We would not tolerate hooliganism in the garb of nationalism," he said.

The report came that a group of people got into a tiff with some policemen deployed at the rear gate of the Ramlila Maidan around 3 am.

The youth heckled the policemen and hit them with sticks when they tried to stop their group from opening the gate.

The group brought down the barricades and shouted slogans as policemen tried to persuade them to go away.

Every evening, the streets of Delhi are filled with some flag-waving Anna supporters riding cars with their heads hanging out of the windows, speeding past buses and other vehicles.

Also, bikers are seen recklessly riding around India Gate, without helmets.

A lot of traffic violations have been seen on the roads by the protestors on the bikes wearing Anna caps and shouting slogans.

The team also criticised some news channels and newspapers for reporting wrong facts about the ongoing negotiations between team Anna and the government.

New Delhi, August 26
While the government is still dithering from a consensual position, 74-year-old Anna Hazare is slowly losing the ground as his health is deteriorating day-by-day. He has lost nearly another half kilo in the last 24 hours, but the discussions surrounding team Anna's demands don't seem to be making any headway.

Seeing all this, a large section of supporters was caught in a feeling of dismay and despondency since morning when talks regarding the delay on discussion on the Jan Lokpal Bill trickled in.

"The government should consider towards having discussions on the demands of the people and do it expeditiously. Anna has to be convinced to give up his fast as it is really not worth his life. The nation needs him," asserted Bholanath Chawla, a resident of Defence Colony, adding that hope that the best sense prevails.

Importantly, "Assertion of the principal is that human beings are the ends and not the means" - is the message what many supporters of the Anna's crusade want to convey to the Gandhian.

Looking frail and weak, Anna rested almost the whole day and his water intake stood at around five litres. However, many among the crowd kept their spirits high and held the ground, cheering in support of Anna all throughout the day.

"Corruption has got into our nerves and now this fight is not going to end. We know the government is playing tactics and if it thinks that it would trample the movement with the passage of time. It is highly mistaken. Anna is not alone and lakhs of Anna are behind him," said Pradeep Singh from Rajasthan, who has taken leave to join in the protest.

"We are with Anna and this government is not going to have it this time. It has to listen to people's voice. It cannot ignore the mood of the people and has to relent," said Suresh Misra, an MNC employee who has come along with his friends from Gurgaon to participate in the protest.

Doctors monitoring Anna's condition said he continued to be stable. "His condition remains worrying because he is losing weight. He has lost nearly 7 kg and his body is surviving on the stored fats. It looks his vital signs are holding. Doctors are monitoring his condition and checking him in every two hours," said Dr Naresh Trehan.

Nonetheless, majority of his supporters appealed Anna to break his fast and carry on the struggle by being healthy. "The government is unnecessarily delaying it. Everybody knows it that the government's draft is faulty and the Jan Lokpal Bill is better in many ways. The demands of Anna are reasonable and if contentions remain, they should be debated on the floor of Parliament. Parliamentarians should come over the party lines, especially when a man is fasting for so long," said Amal Sharma, software professional.

New Delhi, August 26
Though Rahul Gandhi has first time spoken on the issue of Anna Hazare's Jan Lokpal Bill, the supporters protested outside his residence shouting "Rahul Gandhi hosh mei aao" and "Bharat mata ki jai".

This demonstration is part of Anna's call who asked his supporters a few days back to protest in front of residences of MPs, ministers and MLAs asking them what they are doing to get passed the Jan Lokpal Bill.

Now, whosoever speaks against the bill the supporters demonstrate in front his residence.

So far, the supporters have protested in front of residences of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Delhi Public Works Minister Rajkumar Chauhan.

The protest in front of Rahul's residence came hours after he broke his silence on the contentious issue of the Lokpal Bill, praising Anna but strongly advocating adherence to constitutional principles.

New Delhi, August 26
Some Anna Hazare's supporters at the Ramlila Maidan stand apart from others as they went to extremes of losing their jobs altogether due to their prolonged presence in Anna's campaign for 11days.

And with no clarity as to when will Anna's fast end, supporters said they did not mind losing their jobs.

"There will be another jobs in the future, but never again a chance for us to participate in such a revolutionary movement. There will not be another Anna," they said.

"Who wants to work at a company or with a boss who doesn't even care about nationalistic sentiments? We are not seeking leave for personal problems, vacations, or family functions. It's a purposeful leave. And yet they fail to understand, their short-term targets are more important to them. When I was asked to choose between my job and the campaign, I chose to support Anna," said Virendra Sisodia, who had been working with a private bank for over eight years now.

Anand Raj, 23, from Karnataka has been volunteering with Anna's team since August 16. Raj, who used to work at a Gurgaon-based BPO, said he lost his job after he could not attend office for so many days.

"Tihar Jail, Chhatrasaal stadium and now Ramlila Maidan, the experience of being a part of this movement has been extraordinary. This is the sort of experience one never gains sitting in an office cubicle. I am confident about my skills and I am sure I can soon bag another job. But I don't regret joining the campaign as it has been one of the best experiences of my life," he said.

For Aditi Sahaye from Faridabad, it has been tough over the past 10 days at the maidan.

"I had joined a research firm just a few months back. I was appointed as a trainee for six months. I was up for appraisal next month. We are not allowed to take more than one casual leave in a month during the traineeship period. However, I still tired of talking to the management about my will to go to the Ramlila Maidan for a few days. They did not relent. So, I came and as a result I was served with a notice three days back," she said.

"What's better job than serving your country. We have been coming here everyday. We will not give up till Anna is determined and doesn't get what he wants. He is fighting for us, these losses are temporary. I am sure better things will come our way," said a couple of fresh DU graduates who have delayed their internship till mid-September so that they can help at the volunteer desk at the maidan.

New Delhi, August 26
Adjournment of Parliament House proceedings where the Jan Lopal Bill was to be discussed today brought disappointment and resentment among Anna's supporters sitting in the Ramlila Maidan. Consequently, they shouted chor, chor when BJP leaders Gopinath Munde and Ananth Kumar reached there to meet Anna.

The BJP leaders had to leave the maidan abruptly.

The BJP-led NDA disrupted the Lok Sabha proceedings where a discussion on the issue of Lokpal Bill was being taken up, as they were opposed to the debate under Rule 193 which does not entail voting.

Kiran Bedi, a member of team Anna provoked people for asking the BJP leaders when they were addressing a conference in the ground if they would allow Parliament to function at least tomorrow. She said politicians had double standards and they wore masks.

Bedi said tomorrow would be a decisive day when the country would come to know which party stands where vis-a-vis the issue of the Lokpal Bill in Parliament.

New Delhi, August 26
With the government openly dithering over holding a debate on the Jan Lokpal Bill and delaying its tabling in Parliament, the thousands of supporters at the Ramlila Maidan are getting increasingly anxious and upset.

With Anna looking visibly weak on the eleventh day of his fast today, the public is getting anxious and angry over the government's "games".

Rahul Gandhi's statement in Parliament today further disillusioned the supporters at the Maidan. Also, the increasing politicisation of the issue is complicating the situation.

Arvind Sharma, a shopkeeper of Old Delhi, said, "I am worried about Anna's health. The government is busy playing games. I am very disappointed with its handling of the agitation. The ministers have come out as big liars. They give one statement in the morning, another in the afternoon and sing a different tune by evening. I had expectations from Rahul Gandhi, but his speech has shattered them. He is building a dream scenario and refusing to take the first step."

The sentiment was echoed by Gita Kapoor, a schoolteacher. "The government's handling of the campaign has been shameful. It is taking a toll on the 74-year-old Gandhian's health. It is busy running around in circles, feeding confusion and playing games. Rahul Gandhi's Parliament speech is a huge disappointment. He is trying to scuttle the issue at hand and make it a long-term plan, which most likely will never materialise or will materialise in a form entirely different from the one envisaged by the civil society," said Kapoor.

Youngsters have a more aggressive viewpoint.

Rohit Verma, a DU student, said, "The government is trying to sideline the Jan Lokpal agitation, but the people are not fools It is a shame that the government changes its tune three times a day. Rahul Gandhi's statement is nothing but an attempt to override the agitation and take the command away from Anna and the people. The government will not be allowed to get away like this."

Ghaziabad, August 26
The BJP today said its spokesperson in western Uttar Pradesh was beaten up by the Ghaziabad police chief and illegally detained when the party leader went to his office to seek the arrest of a criminal.

The party has complained to the state home secretary and state police chief. The Ghazaiabad police chief could not be reached for comments despite several attempts.

SP Singh, a former member of the state minority commission, said he had gone to meet Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Raghuvir Lal to complain that the police was not proceeding enough to nab a criminal against whom he (Singh) had registered a complaint at the Sihani Gate police station.

"I entered the SSP's office and requested him to phone the police station concerned to expedite the arrest of the culprit. Getting angered over this request, the SSP got up and shouted at me to get out of his office. When I insisted that he phone the police station concerned, the SSP came close to me and slapped me," Singh told IANS.

"The SSP's aides, including the public relations officer (PRO), snatched my mobile phone and switched it off and lodged me at the Kotwali police station," he alleged.

The BJP activist said he managed to complain to state BJP chief Surya Pratap Shahi before his mobile was taken away. Shahi contacted the principal secretary (home) and the Director General of police (DGP).

"It is a criminal act on the part of an IPS officer who is supposed to solve the public's problem. Instead of solving the problems, he thrashed a respected leader of the party who hails from the minority community and has been member of the UP Minority Commission. The principal secretary (home) and the DGP have been apprised of the incident and requested to take action," Shahi said.

Meanwhile, Mayor Damyanti Goel, local legislator Sunil Sharma and other party activists staged a sit in at the Kotwali police station in protest.

"The BJP leaders lifted the dharna after the SSP reached the police station and expressed regret for the incident publicly," Singh said. -- IANS