Anna Hazare to be released shortly: DP

Anna Hazare to be released shortly: Social activist Anna Hazare is being released from Tihar jail shortly. Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat told AIR that his release order has been sent to Tihar Jail. He said, Anna Hazare's associates are also being released. Bhagat said, all the 1500 people detained during the day, have already been released. Mr. Hazare was taken into custody this morning on grounds of apprehension of breach of peace following his intention to defy prohibitory orders to go on indefinite fast. He was sent to Jail this afternoon after he was produced before a Special Executive Magistrate and refused to give the undertaking. Anna's associates Kiran Bedi and Shanti Bhushan, who were detained, were also released. Earlier, Opposition Parties had demanded immediate release of Anna Hazare. They also demanded a statement from the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in Parliament on his arrest. The demand was made after a meeting of leaders of various political parties including Sitaram Yechuri of CPM, Gurudas Dasgupta and D.Raja of CPI, Shailendra Kumar of Samajwadi Party, Raghuvamsh Prasad Singh of RJD and Mysoora Reddy of TDP besides NDA partners. Talking to reporters following the meeting, CPIM leader Seetaram Yechury said that they wanted the Prime Minister to explain the government's action in both the Houses. In a seperate briefing, senior BJP leader, Mrs Sushma Swaraj echoed similar sentiments. However, there was no consensus amongst the opposition parties on boycotting the parliament on the issue. Strongly defending Anna Hazare's custody, the Home Minister Mr. P.Chidambaram had earlier said that the government was not happy with the conditions imposed by the Delhi Police. But it was a painful decision to detain Anna as he and his supporters had made it public that they will defy the prohibitory orders. Mr. Chidambaram however made it clear that the government is not against holding any demonstration or peaceful protest. Talking to a private TV channel, Information and Broadcasting minister Ambika soni, asserted that only Jan Lokpal Bill will not root out corruption. She said, the anguish of the people is understandable and several measures have to be taken for combatting the menace of corruption.