Delhi Police does a U-turn, allows Team Anna to fast

Two days after refusing the nod for its protest at Jantar Mantar, Delhi Police on Saturday granted permission to Team Anna to hold its indefinite fast from July 25 at the dharna hotspot in Delhi.

Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal claimed the police have given permission for its indefinite fast.

"Yes," Kejriwal told PTI through a text message when asked whether police have given permission to Team Anna to hold an indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar.

A senior Delhi Police official said they have given permission to the activists after they provided the required undertaking mandated by the Supreme Court.

Police had two days ago refused permission to Team Anna to hold the indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar from July 25, contending the timing coincided with the monsoon session of Parliament when it has to provide space to other outfits.

Activists had then refused to buy the argument and said they will hold the protest only at the same spot or go to jail while accusing Home Minister P Chidambaram of not being allowed to hold the fast.

Team Anna had announced the indefinite protest against the UPA government on the issue of corruption and its alleged failure to enact a strong Lokpal as well as not setting up a Special Investigation Team to probe corruption charges against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his 14 Cabinet colleagues.