New Delhi : Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare refused to leave Tihar jail in Delhi for the second day on Wednesday after he was arrested and jailed a day before Tuesday, but was then released by the authorities in a U-turn within 12 hours. Hazare has refused to eat, who is campaigning for a stronger lokpal bill to curtail corruption, is on hunger strike, said Manish Sisodia, a colleague of the activist

who spoke to media. Arvind Kejriwal, an RTI activist and a prominent leader of Hazare’s movement, is in Tihar too, said Sisodia.

Hazare’s refusal to leave Tihar prison may prove to be a headache for the government, which has been perceived to be floundering, with Congress leaders struggling to defend their earlier hardline stand against a Gandhian who has become an icon in India’s war on corruption.

On Wednesday, thousands of activists plan to protest outside Tihar in support of Hazare, Rallies, candle light vigils and marches are planned across India.

The arrests of Hazare and his aides crippled parliament as an otherwise divided opposition closed ranks. The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Communist Party of India-Marxist called for nationwide protests Wednesday. Opposition parties want a debate in Parliament over Hazare’s arrest and the Prime Minister to explain why the government took the step.

Hazare was taken into custody on Tuesday morning from a residential area in east Delhi after he refused to accept conditions set by the Delhi Police for his fast to press for his team’s version of the lokpal bill. Hazare wants all fetters on his protest to be removed.