Hundreds of anti-corruption activists arrested in India

India has denied it is stifling democratic protest after police arrested 1,300 people to halt a hunger strike by an anti-corruption activist. Prominent campaigner Anna Hazare was arrested hours before his fast against a proposed new anti-corruption law. India''s Home Minister P Chidambaram said the detentions were because protesters had not obeyed police conditions for the demonstration, according to the BBC. Hazare is being held for a week in Delhi''s Tihar prison, it said. India''s proposed anti-corruption ombudsman should be able to investigate any official - including the prime minister and judges, said Chidambaram. For his part, India''s Home Secretary RK Singh said Hazare had been detained because he said he "intended to defy prohibitory orders" and fast at a park in Delhi. The police laid down six conditions for the fast to take place, which included the following: the fast should be limited to three days; no more than 4,000 to 5,000 people are allowed to gather. Hazare''s supporters came out on the streets of many Indian cities to protest. Those detained were arrested at different places in Delhi, with most of them being taken to a stadium in the city. Hazare, 74, had pledged to go on hunger strike in the capital, Delhi, on Tuesday despite police denying him permission to fast for more than three days.