Police say no to protest,Anna faces arrest today

There were also clear indications that Hazare and anybody else who tried to break prohibitory orders would be arrested immediately. Hazare himself declared that he would go ahead with the fast even if it meant getting arrested.

He also asked his supporters to fill jails all over the country if he was arrested tomorrow. I have come to understand that I will be refused permission. We will go there (J P Park). If I am arrested,I will continue my hunger strike in jail. If I am released,I will go back to the venue and this circle will continue, he told reporters.

Taking authorities by surprise,Hazare went to Rajghat in the evening and sat in the lawns in front of Mahatma Gandhis samadhi. As word spread,hundreds of people reached the memorial.

Addressing a press conference,Hazare said it is now a fight to the finish,adding they were not for pulling down the government,but that if it falls in the process,they dont care. I had great regards for the Prime Minister but he is also talking the language of minister Kapil Sibal, he said.

It is just the start of a struggle for change. We have to fight a long battle. We dont have any doubt that Lokpal will be instituted,we will ensure that,the whole country is for it.

Calling the media his friend and family,he said that this was an enduring relationship that would fuel his struggle. I can give in writing that if the Jan Lokpal Bill becomes law,not 100 per cent but at least 60-65 per cent of corruption will go away. If not,I am ready to serve water in Sibals household, he said.

Team Hazare warned that it was exploring legal options,including moving the Supreme Court,to get its right to protest reinstated.

The Delhi police refused permission for Hazares fast as his team gave an undertaking for just 16 out of the 22 conditions laid down by the police. They declined to give an undertaking that the activist would end his fast by the evening of August 18,that they would restrict the number of protesters to 5,000,that government doctors would check on Hazare,that they would not use loudspeakers and tents,and that the number of vehicles would be limited to 50 cars and 50 motorcycles in parking.

We have not accepted six conditions as they are unconstitutional, senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan said.

Another member of the Hazare team,Arvind Kejriwal,said the denial of permission showed the dictatorial and arbitrary attitude of the government and that it was creating an Emergency-like situation.

Yoga guru Ramdev wrote a letter to the Prime Minister,asking him to exercise self restraint. We would expect that you will exercise self-restraint and not allow a repeat of what happened against us on the midnight of June 4 at Ramlila Maidan, he said,in a reference to the police crackdown against his agitation in Delhi.

Union Home Secretary R K Singh held a meeting with Delhi Police Commissioner B K Gupta and other senior officials to take stock of the steps taken by the force to tackle any untoward situation. Sources said Singh told the Delhi police to deal with the issue strictly as per law. The Home Ministry will not interfere in the decision of the Delhi police. We have nothing to do with it. The Delhi police is capable of dealing with the situation. If they decide to go ahead with their programme defying the order,law will take its own course, a Home Ministry official said.

Police sources also said that services of two magistrates have been sought for Tuesday,who may be required in case of any law and order situation.