Advani slams Govt. over Anna's detention

New Delhi, Aug 16 (ANI): Slamming the government over the detention of veteran social activist Anna Hazare, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L K Advani on Tuesday said instead of dealing with the problem of corruption and owning responsibility, the former is trying to find scapegoats and is stopping peaceful protests.

"I am not surprised at this development. This is the direction in which this government is moving," NDTV quoted Advani as, saying.

The 73-year-old Gandhian was taken into custody from a residential area in Delhi before he was to proceed to the venue of his fast in Jai Prakash Narain Park where prohibitory orders are in place.

Three other prominent activists Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Shanti Bhushan were also taken into preventing custody.

According to sources, senior police officials, including DCP (Crime) Ashok Chand, met Hazare this morning at an east Delhi apartment where he was staying in a bid to convince him to not go ahead with his planned protest.

However, Hazare turn down the request following which he was detained, Times Now reports.

Around 500 supporters were with Anna at the time of his detention.

Around 500 police personnel have been deployed from early morning itself after the city police imposed Section 144 around the park, police sources said.

Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat had said that prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC has been imposed in some areas of Daryaganj and IP police stations, which include Jai Prakash Narain Park and Shaheed Park. (ANI)