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72yrs old Anna Hazare Announces Fast Unto Death to Save the Future of us and for our Children
1 man fighting for 1210000000 (1.21 billion)
About Anna Hazare :
Dr.Kisan Baburao Hazare, popularly known as Anna Hazare (b. June 15, 1938), is an Indian social activist who is especially recognized for his contribution to the development of Ralegan Siddhi, a village in Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra, India and his efforts for establishing it as a model village, for which he was awarded the Padma Bhushan by Govt. of India, in 1992. On April 5, 2011, he has started a fast unto death to make a pressure on union government to enact a law on Lokpal that deals with corruption in public offices.
Veteran social activist Anna Hazare on 5 april began a fast-unto-death in the capital demanding enactment of a comprehensive Jan Lokpal Bill to give wider powers to Ombudsman to check corruption.
It's a fight to the finish for citizens' rights: Anna Hazare
Joined by scores of people including noted reformist Swami Agnivesh, former IPS officer and activist Kiran Bedi and Magsaysay award winner Sandeep Pandey, 72-year-old Hazare began his hunger strike at Jantar Mantar after paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.
"I will observe fast-unto-death till the government agrees to form a joint committee comprising 50 per cent officials and the remaining citizens and intellectuals to draft the Jan Lokpal Bill," Hazare said at Rajghat.
He then proceeded to India Gate in an open jeep where tricolour waving supporters, including school students were present.
Hazare went ahead with his agitation despite the Prime Minister's Office last night expressing disappointment over his decision to go on fast unto death. The PMO release said that the Prime Minister has enormous respect for Hazare and his mission.
"The Prime Minister says we trust you (Hazare), we respect you. But, then why did the PM not sit with us even once after the meeting last month," Hazare said.
The anti-corruption crusader said he was disappointed after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had in the last meeting with social activists over the proposed law to tackle corruption rejected their demand for a joint committee.
"If the government alone drafts this bill, it will be autocratic not democratic, there will be discrepancies," Hazare, who has observed fast to protest against corruption many times in the past too, said.
He lamented that views of eminent persons like Justice (Retd) Santosh Hegde, lawyer Prashant Bhushan and Agnivesh "were not considered important by the government".
Janata Dal (United) chief Sharad Yadav, who was present to show solidarty with Hazare, said he was convinced that the Jan Lokpal Bill was the need of the hour to tackle corruption in the country.
"Just as Election Commission and Supreme Court are effective bodies, similarly an institution which is to fight corruption has to be equally powerful," Yadav said
"I approve of the draft prepared by Hazareji and others. I am willing to back it in Parliament," Yadav said.
Hazare's supporters held banners demanding enactment of the Jan Lokpal Bill at the earliest and claimed that at least six lakh people had vouched their support to the anti-corruption drive by signing a letter.
"All the activists present here would be on a day-long hunger strike, but, Hazareji, would continue his fast till the government agrees," Kiran Bedi, also a Magsaysay award winner, told the gathering.
She urged people across the country to join Hazare in this "crucial demand" for an effective anti-corruption legislation and said all citizens should observe a day-long fast.
"We need bodies like the Lokayukta to stem corruption at state-level. We all know what is the condition of the only one that is presently functional... in Karnataka. He is fighting a battle himself," Bedi said.
Hazare's crusade against corruption gets nationwide support
NEW DELHI: Support for social activist Anna Hazare for his campaign against corruption and for the Jan Lokpal Bill swelled on Thursday with tens of thousands of people in scores of cities across the country responding to his indefinite fast.
In Bangalore, four techies and MBAs joined the hunger fast even as people rallied in support of the 71-year-old Magsaysay award winner. In Mumbai, 25 people went on indefinite hunger fast in solidarity with Hazare.
National Advisory Council (NAC) member Aruna Roy lent her full support to Hazare in Jaipur saying the Lok Pal Bill needs wider consultation. "This is only the beginning of a (struggle for) a seminal legislation which is the basis of people's hope to build a more accountable system," Roy said.
Hazare got more traction in Rajasthan with NGOs staging demonstrations in various towns and cities. There were candle-holding processionists at the statue circle in Jaipur on Tuesday evening.
In Chandigarh, Gandhian Sham Lal began his hunger strike even as several people and organisations in towns and cities across Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh joined Hazare's fight against corruption.
While Kultar Singh Sandhwan, grandson of Giani Zail Singh, too threatened to start a hunger strike, social activists in Sangrur are on dharna outside the deputy commissioner's office. There were protests in Sirsa, Jind, Rewari, Ambala and Kurukshetra against increasing corruption. Many others from Haryana are leaving for Delhi to join Hazare's fast.
Supporting Hazare in Lucknow are people from across the society. Teachers, lawyers, social activists, senior citizens, students, trade and bank unions came forward and pledged support to citizens movement to demand a strong anti-corruption law and Jan Lokpal.
"We'll spend two to three hours protesting every day until the demand for a comprehensive Lokpal Bill is met," said RB Singh, secretary, Lucknow University Teachers Association.
The villagers of Ralegan Siddhi, where Hazare lives, will observe a bandh on April 7 in solidarity with his indefinite hunger strike. Ralegan Siddhi sarpanch Jaisingh Mapari said that villagers hoisted black flags on April 4 as a mark of protest against the government.
"After Thursday's bandh, the villagers will begin a chain hunger strike for two days. On April 11, a morcha will be taken to the Parner tehsil office and a jail bharo agitation will be launched from April 12 as asked for by Anna," Mapari said.
Around 60 villagers left for Delhi in two batches on Monday and Tuesday to sit with Hazare on his strike, he added.
Before leaving for Delhi, Hazare had told villagers that he would not return until his demand was met by the Centre. He also told the villagers that in the event of his death, his body should be brought to Ralegan Siddhi and buried under the first step of the Yadavbaba temple (village deity).
What is Lokpal Bill
The Lokpal will be a three-member body with a chairperson who is or was a chief justice or Supreme Court judge, and two members who are or have been high courts judges or chief justices.
Implementation of the Lokpal bill will hopefully reduce corruption in India.
The basic idea of the Lokpal is borrowed from the office of the ombudsman in other countries.
It provides for filing complaints of corruption against the prime minister , other ministers and members of parliament with the ombudsman.
Anyone, except for a public servant , can file a complaint and the Lokpal has to complete the inquiry within six months.
For 42 years, governments have tried to put in place the law.
The bill was for the first time presented during the fourth Lok Sabha in 1968, and was passed there in 1969. However, the Lok Sabha was dissolved , resulting in the first death of the bill.
It was revived in 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005 and 2008.
In September 2004, prime minister Manmohan Singh said the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government would lose no time in enacting the bill. But strong lobbies blocked it.
The Lokpal Bill, 2010, awaits an okay from a select committee.
Former chief justice of the Delhi high court and rights activist Rajinder Sachar feels the bill is "shamefully toothless and meant to give a false reassurance to the people that the government is serious in its fight against corruption" .
But former chief justice of India M N Venkatachelliah feels the PM must be out of its purview.
1 man fighting for 1210000000 (1.21 billion)
About Anna Hazare :
Dr.Kisan Baburao Hazare, popularly known as Anna Hazare (b. June 15, 1938), is an Indian social activist who is especially recognized for his contribution to the development of Ralegan Siddhi, a village in Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra, India and his efforts for establishing it as a model village, for which he was awarded the Padma Bhushan by Govt. of India, in 1992. On April 5, 2011, he has started a fast unto death to make a pressure on union government to enact a law on Lokpal that deals with corruption in public offices.
Veteran social activist Anna Hazare on 5 april began a fast-unto-death in the capital demanding enactment of a comprehensive Jan Lokpal Bill to give wider powers to Ombudsman to check corruption.
It's a fight to the finish for citizens' rights: Anna Hazare
Joined by scores of people including noted reformist Swami Agnivesh, former IPS officer and activist Kiran Bedi and Magsaysay award winner Sandeep Pandey, 72-year-old Hazare began his hunger strike at Jantar Mantar after paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.
"I will observe fast-unto-death till the government agrees to form a joint committee comprising 50 per cent officials and the remaining citizens and intellectuals to draft the Jan Lokpal Bill," Hazare said at Rajghat.
He then proceeded to India Gate in an open jeep where tricolour waving supporters, including school students were present.
Hazare went ahead with his agitation despite the Prime Minister's Office last night expressing disappointment over his decision to go on fast unto death. The PMO release said that the Prime Minister has enormous respect for Hazare and his mission.
"The Prime Minister says we trust you (Hazare), we respect you. But, then why did the PM not sit with us even once after the meeting last month," Hazare said.
The anti-corruption crusader said he was disappointed after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had in the last meeting with social activists over the proposed law to tackle corruption rejected their demand for a joint committee.
"If the government alone drafts this bill, it will be autocratic not democratic, there will be discrepancies," Hazare, who has observed fast to protest against corruption many times in the past too, said.
He lamented that views of eminent persons like Justice (Retd) Santosh Hegde, lawyer Prashant Bhushan and Agnivesh "were not considered important by the government".
Janata Dal (United) chief Sharad Yadav, who was present to show solidarty with Hazare, said he was convinced that the Jan Lokpal Bill was the need of the hour to tackle corruption in the country.
"Just as Election Commission and Supreme Court are effective bodies, similarly an institution which is to fight corruption has to be equally powerful," Yadav said
"I approve of the draft prepared by Hazareji and others. I am willing to back it in Parliament," Yadav said.
Hazare's supporters held banners demanding enactment of the Jan Lokpal Bill at the earliest and claimed that at least six lakh people had vouched their support to the anti-corruption drive by signing a letter.
"All the activists present here would be on a day-long hunger strike, but, Hazareji, would continue his fast till the government agrees," Kiran Bedi, also a Magsaysay award winner, told the gathering.
She urged people across the country to join Hazare in this "crucial demand" for an effective anti-corruption legislation and said all citizens should observe a day-long fast.
"We need bodies like the Lokayukta to stem corruption at state-level. We all know what is the condition of the only one that is presently functional... in Karnataka. He is fighting a battle himself," Bedi said.
Hazare's crusade against corruption gets nationwide support
NEW DELHI: Support for social activist Anna Hazare for his campaign against corruption and for the Jan Lokpal Bill swelled on Thursday with tens of thousands of people in scores of cities across the country responding to his indefinite fast.
In Bangalore, four techies and MBAs joined the hunger fast even as people rallied in support of the 71-year-old Magsaysay award winner. In Mumbai, 25 people went on indefinite hunger fast in solidarity with Hazare.
National Advisory Council (NAC) member Aruna Roy lent her full support to Hazare in Jaipur saying the Lok Pal Bill needs wider consultation. "This is only the beginning of a (struggle for) a seminal legislation which is the basis of people's hope to build a more accountable system," Roy said.
Hazare got more traction in Rajasthan with NGOs staging demonstrations in various towns and cities. There were candle-holding processionists at the statue circle in Jaipur on Tuesday evening.
In Chandigarh, Gandhian Sham Lal began his hunger strike even as several people and organisations in towns and cities across Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh joined Hazare's fight against corruption.
While Kultar Singh Sandhwan, grandson of Giani Zail Singh, too threatened to start a hunger strike, social activists in Sangrur are on dharna outside the deputy commissioner's office. There were protests in Sirsa, Jind, Rewari, Ambala and Kurukshetra against increasing corruption. Many others from Haryana are leaving for Delhi to join Hazare's fast.
Supporting Hazare in Lucknow are people from across the society. Teachers, lawyers, social activists, senior citizens, students, trade and bank unions came forward and pledged support to citizens movement to demand a strong anti-corruption law and Jan Lokpal.
"We'll spend two to three hours protesting every day until the demand for a comprehensive Lokpal Bill is met," said RB Singh, secretary, Lucknow University Teachers Association.
The villagers of Ralegan Siddhi, where Hazare lives, will observe a bandh on April 7 in solidarity with his indefinite hunger strike. Ralegan Siddhi sarpanch Jaisingh Mapari said that villagers hoisted black flags on April 4 as a mark of protest against the government.
"After Thursday's bandh, the villagers will begin a chain hunger strike for two days. On April 11, a morcha will be taken to the Parner tehsil office and a jail bharo agitation will be launched from April 12 as asked for by Anna," Mapari said.
Around 60 villagers left for Delhi in two batches on Monday and Tuesday to sit with Hazare on his strike, he added.
Before leaving for Delhi, Hazare had told villagers that he would not return until his demand was met by the Centre. He also told the villagers that in the event of his death, his body should be brought to Ralegan Siddhi and buried under the first step of the Yadavbaba temple (village deity).
What is Lokpal Bill
The Lokpal will be a three-member body with a chairperson who is or was a chief justice or Supreme Court judge, and two members who are or have been high courts judges or chief justices.
Implementation of the Lokpal bill will hopefully reduce corruption in India.
The basic idea of the Lokpal is borrowed from the office of the ombudsman in other countries.
It provides for filing complaints of corruption against the prime minister , other ministers and members of parliament with the ombudsman.
Anyone, except for a public servant , can file a complaint and the Lokpal has to complete the inquiry within six months.
For 42 years, governments have tried to put in place the law.
The bill was for the first time presented during the fourth Lok Sabha in 1968, and was passed there in 1969. However, the Lok Sabha was dissolved , resulting in the first death of the bill.
It was revived in 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005 and 2008.
In September 2004, prime minister Manmohan Singh said the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government would lose no time in enacting the bill. But strong lobbies blocked it.
The Lokpal Bill, 2010, awaits an okay from a select committee.
Former chief justice of the Delhi high court and rights activist Rajinder Sachar feels the bill is "shamefully toothless and meant to give a false reassurance to the people that the government is serious in its fight against corruption" .
But former chief justice of India M N Venkatachelliah feels the PM must be out of its purview.