While most members of Anna’s core team were part of the rally, Anna Hazare and Kiran Bedi were not present.
To garner support and build momentum up for the upcoming indefinite fast by its key members including Arvind Kejriwal, Team Anna took out a rally from Raj Ghat to Jantar Mantar here on Sunday in which a large number of people participated.
Scores of four-wheelers and two-wheelers also participated in the rally.
Team Anna had earlier announced that it would hold an indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar from July 25 to press its demands for a strong Jan Lokpal Bill and investigation into corruption charges against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Cabinet colleagues.
While most members of Anna’s core team were part of the rally, Anna Hazare and Kiran Bedi were not present.
Scenes reminiscent of protests held in the Capital over the past one year were witnessed during the rally with the crowd – wearing T-shirts which had “I am Anna” and “Being Anna” written on them – raising slogans and waving the Tricolour while vouching their support for the veteran social activist and his team.
“I want a country which is corruption free for my children. I have attended all the protests organised by Annaji. The Government’s Lokpal Bill is a flawed one under which the investigation agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation would not be independent of it,” said one of Mr. Hazare’s supporters present at the rally.
Col. S.C. Talwar, a resident of Gurgaon who, too, has been actively associated with India Against Corruption, the NGO behind Mr. Hazare’s campaign, said he and Anna Hazare joined the Army in the same year, 1963.
“Back then, I joined as an officer and he joined at a junior rank. But today I am his (Anna’s) soldier and he is capable enough to lead this nation,” said Mr. Talwar, adding that not only the Prime Minister and his Cabinet but also the President should come under the ambit of the Lokpal Bill.
Some supporters expressed disappointment over the fact that “…NGOs were kept out in the Bill proposed by Team Anna”.
Team Anna members also addressed the rally. “We want an Inquiry to be ordered into the charges we have levelled against the Prime Minister, his Ministers and the other tainted members of Parliament. We don’t trust the CBI. We proposed an inquiry by a three-judge panel which was turned down,” said Arvind Kejriwal.
Hitting back at the recent allegations levelled against Team Anna members, Mr. Kejriwal cited the example of his colleague Kiran Bedi against whom a case was registered earlier for allegedly “siphoning money” for her NGO. “Even after six months of investigations, the Delhi Police could not find any evidence against her and they are ready to file the closure report,’ he added.
Mr. Kejriwal described his upcoming fast as a “fight to the finish”. Other team members including Manish Sisodia, Kumar Vishwas and Sanjay Singh addressed the rally.
Keywords: team anna, India against corruption
In Today's dated 26 july 2012 , an article is there with heading "Team Anna launches fast" and the it is written that at any point of time , strength was some what near 200.
I was present there the whole day and I think the hindu reporter is writing report when he visited the Jantar-mantar at 7 AM and he generalised his report.
There were thousands of people chanting Vande mataram while holding Indian flags in their hand.
I would like to request The Hindu to not to print misleading lines please.
Corruption not only occur in Politics It occurs every where films,hospitals,Goverment offices even in private sectors.If anna fights for 10 days It won't comes to end.we,people,start individually against for corruption.If you,Indians don't want to give bribe who will dare to take?.we,people,Indians start giving and taking bribes.
why should we creating the rules because of better living standards.
why should we voilate the rules and doing corruption to escape from that situation?
I will Start practicing the follow the rules.Can you?.........
Anna and his party is fighting for creation of lok pal which will
fight against the corruption in ministries, departments, PSUs, Banks
controlled by the central Government. what about the corruption in
offices,organisations run under the direct control of state of govt.
General public is harassed by the babu working in the offices of
state govt.. Lok pal will not be redressed the general public and not
be able to fight the corruption prevailing in the offices of the state
govt.
I totally agree with Kannan KN. As per political parties, even if you
given Rs 10 to a trafiic police, you will be labelled as corrupt.And,
henceforth, you are not entitled to raise your voice against
corruption - which is domain of politician only. All political parties
wants that we should reconcile to the fact that corruption is normal
thing. THIS IS DEFINITELY last chance of restoring honesty,integriry
in india, something which Nehru and other leaders utterly failed at
time of independence.All we need is to spread this message and make
this movement successfull.
Whoever is author... why you are trying to defame or disrupt this movement.
Don't you want a strong fight against corruption. do you want our children learn cunningness to survive in India or fight entire life for survival?.
Please give fair chance against this corrupt system.
India needs a strong Jan Lokpaal with powers of independent investigation. Otherwise , corruption will so much increase that entire nation will be sold out.
In Hongkong corruption is very less because of ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption)
All Indians must stay united.
I am surprised that.. even the Media has pinned anna movement down.. is it under pressure?
Lately it has been observed that the media and News Papers seems to have been advised for not high ligting the team Anna's activities.
Do they mean by suppressing the news and give least priority they will win the favor of ruling party they are wrong.One day or the other truth will prevail.Media should be non partisan and independent and must
give credence to a highly volatile issye of corruption.
Please don't worry about who was present in the rally and who was not. Let these guys go. First time in 60 years something troubling these politicians. we all should support.
Just try raising your voice against your local corporator, and see how difficult your life becomes. Team Anna is fighting the entire political establishment of the country! They need our (and the media's) full support. Instead just see what is happening. The team is being put to constant scrutiny. If they utter a word 'out of place', they are mercilessly criticized.
The government has let its entire might and all its departments after them. Corrupt politicians and the corruption in media have ensured that their image has been beaten down, and they have been shifted to Page 6 of the newspapers from the front page. Small slips by the team are being magnified to equate them with our corrupt and immoral political class. Are we saying that even if you have paid a 10 rupee bribe to a traffic policeman, you get disqualified from raising your voice against massive corruption like the 2G scam? This straightaway disqualifies over 90% of India’s population from participating in this movement.
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