Law of the land is equal for all, says Ambika Soni

New Delhi, Aug.15 (ANI): Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni on Monday said that the law of the land was equal for all, but added that citizens of the country wanting to protest over some issue, had to abide by the demands of the law and order machinery.

Rejecting suggestions that the government was cracking down on activists supporting Anna Hazare ahead of his planned fast unto death, Soni said: "I do not want to say any harsh thing against anybody. The law of the land is equal for all. Be it Congress, any other political party or any citizen, we all have to take the permission of the law and order machinery to carry out any protest or march."

"If anybody tries to violate it (law) knowingly" the law and order machinery will have to act," she added.

Soni also dismissed the allegation of civil rights activist Arvind Kejriwal that Delhi Police had imposed conditions on them at the behest of politicians, saying any person making such allegation is "deliberately trying to mislead."

She said if anybody wanted to end corruption, some mechanism will have to be built and wondered "why there is this panic and desperation. Why can't we wait when we are going to take such a historic measure (brining Lokpal)."

Soni said MPs will also give their views on the bill when it goes to Parliament. "Let us see what suggestions they give, what amendments they bring," she said.

Soni rejected suggestions that political pressure was being put on the Delhi Police. She added that the police are doing their job, which is to ensure law and order is maintained.

Union Law Minister Salman Khursheed said that no large gathering could be allowed as safety and traffic regulations are needed.

However, senior Communist Party of India leader Brinda Karat said whatever the government is doing cannot be justified in the name of democracy.

"They (the government) cannot force some one not to protest, but at the same time we have certain issues with the demands of Anna Hazare. But if this Congress government feels that there shouldn't be any protest, then they have forgotten that ours is a democracy," Karat said. (ANI)