As protests spread across the country, the Delhi Police late on Tuesday decided to withdraw the case against social activist Mr Anna Hazare and his team members who were arrested earlier in the day and sent to Tihar Jail.

Mr Hazare was arrested from Mayur Vihar in East Delhi, as he was leaving for JP Park, the site of his fast-unto-death for a ‘strong' Lokpal Bill. In jail, Mr Hazare, refused to take food. Hundreds of people were detained and later released across the country as they protested against the 74-year-old activist's arrest. The proceedings in both Houses of Parliament were also stalled.

The Government justified its action to arrest him fearing “breach of peace” and said that defiance of police orders was not acceptable in a democracy.

“This is not a pleasant task and none of us is happy trying to explain the circumstances under which certain events have taken place. It is a painful duty and we are performing it with the seriousness it deserves,” the Union Home Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, told reporters.

In Parliament, the Leader of the Opposition, Ms Sushma Swaraj, lashed out at Dr Manmohan Singh's Government for arresting Mr Hazare from an area where prohibitory orders had not been imposed.

Not satisfied with Mr Chidambaram's statement, Ms Swaraj said, “The Prime Minister should make a statement in both Houses of Parliament on whatever is happening in the country. Nobody else.”

She said the demand for the Prime Minister's statement will be made on Wednesday and that will determine Parliament's functioning.

Other non-UPA parties, including the Left, closed ranks and held a meeting to discuss a common strategy over the issue and decided to continue their agitation in Parliament against corruption.

Terming the Government's action as a sign of “nervousness”, the Opposition was “united not on Jan Lokpal Bill but violation of democratic rights”, said Ms Swaraj.

Congress spokesperson, Mr Abhishek Singhvi, decried the Opposition's move and said it would have serious repercussions for democracy and the political process.

Later, Mr Hazare's associate and senior lawyer, Mr Prashant Bhushan, announced a series of agitational programmes, including a march from India Gate to Parliament on Wednesday evening. He also called upon Government employees to go on a day's mass leave to show solidarity with Mr Hazare.

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