Reiterating his resolve to go on a hunger strike from August 16 to press the demand for the Jan Lokpal Bill, veteran social activist Anna Hazare said here on Tuesday that he was prepared to begin his protest in jail if the police did not permit him to hold it anywhere in the capital.
“Delhi me permission nahi mil rahi hai to jail me to milege? [If I don't get the permission in Delhi, at least I will get it in jail?] Will begin my fast there if need be. We will sit wherever we find a place. For one week we have been asking for a place. A letter has been sent to the [Delhi] Police Commissioner. But the government has been avoiding it. They are betraying the people of the country,” Mr. Hazare told journalists.
Presentation today
A delegation of Jan Lokpal activists, namely Mr. Hazare, activist Arvind Kejriwal and senior advocate Shanti Bhushan, would be making a presentation on their demand before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Wednesday.
Mr. Hazare said the team would not believe in any verbal assurances given by the government anymore. “Once bitten, twice shy. This time we won't give in to verbal assurance. We will ask for written affidavits about what changes the government intends to make.”
He blamed the government for doing a U-turn on the purview of the Lokpal. “We gave 71 points. They agreed to some and reserved around 10 points for further discussion. Then they went back on their assurances. As a result there were two drafts of the Bill. They presented only one draft before the Cabinet. P Chidambaram later claimed to have fulfilled the promise. You call this fulfilling promises? They have brought in a useless Bill,” Mr. Hazare said.
The Jan Lokpal activists appealed to citizens to show solidarity with the movement by switching off lights between 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Independence Day. They have also urged people to participate in the movement from August 16 and take leave from work for a week.
Keywords: Lokpal bill, anti-corruption movement, Team Anna
It is interesting to observe the amount of traction this Reform movement is gaining. Yet 'all - media' solidarity towards the cause, reflects low passion level. Reflecting poorly on community of journalist to report the demand of time and cause.
Anna's team must put the following two points: 1. The bill should address the problems of a common man. 2. Govt talks about difficulty in covering a large section of lower cadre people due to shortage of funds and man power, both of which can be acquired by just withdrawing security from all VIPs. why should security be given to them, since they are people's representative and should be bold enough to move among public freely.
I think Anna Hazareji should understand that the Govt. has already conceded 6o points out of the 70 points on his proposal regarding Lokpal Bill presented by his team. This should be treated a great achievement in comparison to the previous Governments' sleeping over it for nearly 46 years. You must realise that the UPA-II has at least put this Lokpal Bill in their CMP and none else did so; and now against much odd, they are trying to bring it out. Slow and steady wins the race. Let us start a beginning from somewhere. Annaji, please don't ask for a Bullypal Bill. You are not perhaps understanding that in the process you are gradually lossing the initial sheen.
Acts on part of the central government is on line of British Rule in India. Anna must go ahead in his mission for 2nd Independence of the country since we have a feeling that we are not being ruled by our own people. We must switch off lights in our houses/offices between 8pm and 9 pm on 15 Aug (R) 15 Aug as suggested by Anna Hazare to express our solidarity with civil rights members who are working selflessly for our cause.
Jai ho Hazare how many people have guts like him to protest against the powerfull so called elite of India across all party lines.People like him are rare and glad to see hindu publishing stories related to corruption and consistent exposure of corruption at all levels
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