New Delhi, Aug 17 (IANS) Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expressed disappointment over Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement on the arrest of activist Anna Hazare.


The BJP leader rejected the statement in the house and demanded that the prime minister release the activists and give them a place to stage their protest.

"Release the protesters and give them a place to stage their protest," he said, adding that if any rules are broken after that the police can take action.

Jaitley accused the prime minister of trying to take shelter behind the people in uniform.

Manmohan Singh said in his statement in the Rajya Sabha: "Delhi Police came to the conclusion that it was clear that Shri Anna Hazare and his supporters would commit a cognizable offence and there was a likelihood of a breach of peace."

"Hence, Shri Anna Hazare and six others were arrested," he added.

The prime minister made an identical statement in the Lok Sabha earlier.

Jaitley said the government first took the activists for a "walk in the garden", offering them to be in the joint committee.

"When they said involve the opposition in the drafting committee, the government refused," he said.

He also slammed the Delhi Police's conditions for holding protest.

"The condition for holding a protest can be that there should be no violence, not that how many people will protest, and for how long they will protest," Jaitley said.

He also accused the government for "condoning" corruption.

"Right question is not who frames law, right question is does the government has will to fight corruption? You don't need magic wand to fight corruption, all you need is a political will," Jaitley said.

"Arrogance of power which has become a feature of this government is not how corruption will be fought," he added.