Refusing permission to Hazare's fast undemocratic: CPI(M)

The CPI(M) today took exception to the Delhi Police refusing permission to Anna Hazare's fast, asserting it was "highly undemocratic" to say that one cannot protest against a bill if it has reached Parliament.

Senior CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat said her party has differences with certain provisions advocated by Hazare and the "weak" government Lokpal bill but no one can question the right to protest even if you do not agree with the demands of the agitator.

"The point here is, one may not agree with the form of protest or with all the demands being raised by Hazare. However, his right to protest cannot be questioned. Saying once a bill is in Parliament, there can be no protest in this country is highly undemocratic.

"The Congress has forgotten when it was in Opposition and when it is in Opposition. Even in the states there are so many occasions they do not agree with a bill and they have staged a protest," Karat said.