New Delhi: Adamant to get the strong Lok Pal bill passed in parliament, prominent Indian social activist Anna Hazare is all set to start an indefinite fast from Aug 16, in the national capital, in support of the much hyped Bill.
Hazare is demanding what he calls a “strong” Lok pal bill that insists inclusion of the Prime Minister, senior judges and bureaucrats all be governed by an independent body to fight against corruption. He is already under severe restrictions by the government and many of the cabinet ministers have criticized his scheduled fast.
While the Indian government has agreed to give permission to Anna Hazare to stage the fast for 3 days at a central park in New Delhi, interestingly they Government has also asked team Anna to sign an undertaking that they will not fast more than 3 days. Anna Hazare has however in his reply not agreed to the condition, stating, “We denounce the restriction of the police, and will go ahead with the fast.”
The 72 year old Anna, who also carried a successful fast last month which forced government authorities to change their stand on Lok Pal, has once again put the whole government in a state of reaction. It is feared that Anna and his team might get the same treatment as Baba Ram dev.
An analyst in India says the Indian government has to put restrictions early on the scheduled fast of Anna, otherwise it won’t be possible for the government to control the sea of people expected to join the fast unto death.
Meanwhile, to extend support to Anna, Anna Hazare’s Lucknow team today launched a website www.iacbranding.org. The website hosts many resources which could be helpful for extending support to the anti corruption campaign.
Pertinently, US State Department spokesperson, Victoria Nuland, on Saturday advised India’s External Affairs ministry on how India should exercise “democratic restraint” in dealing with the Anna Hazare anti-corruption campaign.
“We support the right of peaceful, non-violent protest around the world. That said, India is a democracy, and we count on India to exercise appropriate democratic restraint in the way it deals with peaceful protest,” Victoria Nuland told a press conference in New Delhi.
