The decision seem to have come following sustained media focus on the police’s refusal to let Anna hold his fast at Jantar Mantar.
It is not clear if the police are considering one of the four venues suggested by Team Anna besides Jantar Mantar -- Shaheed Park, Boat Club, Rajghat and Ramlila Maidan. All of them are closer to the original venue. Police have said they would communicate their decision in two days time.
Observers say the police are delaying the choice of the venue merely to deny adequate time for Anna’s team to gather its supporters. The police gave their assurances about the venue to Anna’s team -- Prashant Bhushan, Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Manish Sisodiya—who met the police commissioner on Monday.
They have also assured the team that the place suggested to them would be well connected. Team Anna has expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the meeting and said that it was cordial. Anna’s team has already secured the allotment of Ramlila Ground from the BJP ruled Metropolitan Council of Delhi. However it requires police permission for the fast.
The team has also been preparing for alternatives if Anna is prevented from holding his indefinite fast. One of the ideas is to announce a Bharat Bandh and court arrest. In that case, Anna would continue fasting inside jail, said Arvind Kejriwal. In an effort to sustain the momentum of their agitation around Delhi, Anna supporters are also burning the Lokpal Bill on a daily basis.
