New Delhi: Kishan Baburao Hazare popularly know as Anna Hazare, nearly seven years after he went on a hunger strike demanding the setting up of a Lokpal to probe corruption cases, the social activist on Friday once again sat on an indefinite hunger strike.The venue of his protest is the same iconic Ramlila Maidan, where he had sat on a hunger strike in 2011.
The day, March 23, has been chosen on purpose as Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were hanged to death on this day by the British, said Anna.
Hazare reached Ramlila Maidan where thousands of his supporters have gathered.
He reached the sprawling ground after paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. Hazare is also demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report to address the agrarian crisis in the country.
The activist has been pressing for setting up the Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in the states.
Hazare started a hunger strike on 5 April 2011 to exert pressure on the Indian government to enact a stringent anti-corruption law, The lokpal Bill, 2011 as envisaged in the Jan lokpal Bill, for the institution of an ombudsman with the power to deal with corruption in public places.
The fast led to nationwide protests in support. On the morning of 9 April 2011 Hazare ended his 98-hour hunger strike a day after the government accepted Hazare’s demands.
Social activists, including Medha Patkar, Arvind Kejriwal, former IPS officer Kiran Bedi and Jayaprakash Narayan lent their support. People showed support in social media.
Within a few days of Anna Hazare’s first fast demanding a strong Lokpal (on 5 April 2011), supporters started a campaign known as “I Am Anna Hazare”.
His 2011 anti-graft agitation, which gave birth to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) now ruling in Delhi, targeted the UPA. This time his agitation is likely to target the BJP government.
Last month, the Gandhian accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not being interested in the appointment of the Lokpal at the Centre. The veteran anti-corruption crusader said Modi was “never serious about Lokpal”.
The reason behind the delay in the appointment of a Lokpal, he had pointed out, is because the Prime Minister is afraid that once this becomes a reality his office as well as that of his cabinet members would also come under its purview.
Hazare’s current ‘satyagrah’ is also aimed at highlighting the problems faced by the farmers and the need for electoral reforms.
Last Sunday, he said he was sitting silent on these issues for the last three years trying to communicate with the BJP-led Central government over them.
IANS & Wikipedia
