MCD nod to Hazare to protest at Ramlila Maidan from Dec 27

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Anna Hazare has been given permission by the local civic body to stage protest at the Ramlila Maidan here from December 27 if a strong Lokpal Bill is not passed by Parliament during the ongoing Winter session.

The activists had applied to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) two days ago for allocation of the sprawling ground with a capacity of 30,000, and sources said they have been given the permission.

They said permission had been sought to hold the protest from December 27 to January 5. "We will hold the protest and it will be led by Hazare," a senior Team Anna member said.

However, they are yet to get a No Objection Certificate from Delhi Police without which they will not be able to hold the protest, he said, adding it was not yet decided whether Hazare will go on a fast. "The mode of protest will be finalised later," he said.

If the proposed protest takes place, it will be the third major stir in the national capital this year. The first one was at Jantar Mantar in April when Team Anna forced the government to set up a joint committee for drafting the bill.

Hazare himself had earlier announced that he will relaunch the agitation on December 22 at the end of the Winter session of Parliament if a strong Lokpal Bill is not passed.

Team Anna has been insisting that the lower bureaucracy, higher judiciary, provisions for Citizen Charter and setting up of Lokayuktas in state level be included in the ambit Lokpal Bill.

During the Monsoon session, Hazare sat on fast-unto-death at Ramlila Maidan in August for 13 days after a high-voltage 'who will blink first?' drama.