Social activist Anna Hazare has decided to go on a fast from January 30, the death anniversary day of Mahatma Gandhi, at his native Ralegaon Siddhi village in Maharashtra, in protest against the delay in the appointment of Lok Pal by the Narendra Modi Government.
Announcing this on the sidelines of a youth leadership conference organised by Telangana Jagruthi, a non-governmental organisation that is working for cultural identity of Telangana since 2008, here on Saturday, Anna Hazare said the Centre is giving lame excuses whenever the demand for Lok Pal appointment came up.
Accusing the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre of trying to push the country towards dictatorship, the social activist who led the movements for sustainable rural development, transparency and governance, and against corruption in public life -- said the Modi Government is not adhering to the decisions of the constitutional bodies on several issues, including the implementation of the Lok Pal and Lok Ayuktas Act, 2013.
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Mr. Hazare stated that he had written 32 letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi but did not get any reply so far. As there has been no response from the Centre, I have decided to go on fast from January 30, he said.
Stating that Lok Pal Bill was passed after the entire country stood firm over the necessity of having Lok Pal and Lok Ayuktas institutions in 2011, the social activist said a law was enacted in December 2013 and BJP-led Government was formed government in May 2014. There was large-scale belief that Mr. Modi would appoint the Lok Pal and implement the Act so that there is some respite from corruption in the country.
However, nothing had moved in the direction of appointment of Lok Pal over the last five years and the Centre is citing one reason or the other for the delay in making the appointment, Anna Hazare said.
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