The newly formed Jantantra Morcha, led by anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare and the former Army chief, General V.K. Singh, will launch a nationwide yatra beginning March 31 from Jallianwala Bagh in Punjab to awaken the masses and “bring about a complete systemic change” in the country.
“We will cover Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in the first phase from March 31 to April 17, during which we will hold public meetings,” General Singh told a press conference here on Thursday. The first phase would conclude at Hardwar in Uttarakhand.
After a 13-day break, the Morcha activists would resume the yatra to cover Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and other States.
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No response to agenda from parties
Since Independence, neither the ruling nor Opposition parties had made sincere efforts to resolve the issues plaguing the people and establish a true democratic system, General Singh said. The Morcha had written to all parties asking if they would adhere to a proposed 25-point agenda on policy matters for the government at the Centre. It was yet to get a response.
Bringing about transparency in governance and decision-making on policy matters, election reforms, police reforms, checking price rise and promulgating laws on land acquisition keeping in view the interests of farmers were among the issues on the agenda of the outfit. Asked whether he would join his former aide Arvind Kejriwal in his fast in the capital from March 23 against illegitimate electricity and water bills, Mr. Hazare said he would not participate on the first day. “If I find time, I may pay a visit later.”
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” Mr. Hazare said he was not sure how long the Central government would last. “But our yatra will continue for the next one-and-a-half years. On conclusion of the tour, a people’s parliament would be convened at Ramlila Maidan here.