Social activist Anna Hazare and his team will observe a one-day fast at Jantar Mantar here on Sunday to press for acceptance of the Jan Lokpal Bill, which according to them, not only has strong provisions to fight corruption but also provides for state protection to whistle-blowers.
“There have been several instances of violence against whistle-blowers and honest citizens and officers. The government removed the provision from its version of the Lokpal Bill. The separate Whistle-blowers Bill that has been introduced in Parliament is weak and ineffective,'' said a spokesperson for India Against Corruption.
Taking forward their ongoing agitation in Bhopal condemning the killing of IPS officer Narendra Kumar, they will hold country-wide protests on March 18, although Mr. Hazare will be fasting in New Delhi. This will be his first fast after the abandoned Mumbai agitation last year when he took ill.
Last April, Mr. Hazare went on fast at Jantar Mantar to press for acceptance of their Jan Lokpal Bill after which the government had formed a joint drafting committee to frame an anti-corruption legislation. He again undertook an indefinite fast at Ramlila Ground in August to press for the Lokpal Bill to be tabled and passed in Parliament. The Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha but was not put to vote in the Rajya Sabha as the government held there were too many amendments moved by the Opposition and the Trinamool Congress.
