Govt rejects Hazare's proposals; Defiant activist announces Jail Bharo campaign

Friday April 08, 2011 12:05:50 PM, IANS

New Delhi: As his fast-unto-death entered the fourth day here Friday, social activist Anna Hazare asked supporters to court arrest April 12 under a 'Jail Bharo Andolan' after the government turned down two of his demands on the anti-graft Lokpal Bill.

Hazare's announcement came after Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said two demands of the activists could not be met. These are notification on an anti-corruption panel and for electing former chief justice of India Justice J.S. Verma or former Supreme Court judge Justice Santosh Hegde as chairman of the committee.

Looking determined, Hazare said: "I have made a decision and appeal to you that April 12 will be Jail Bharo Andolan. How can they refuse the people's appeal?

"These people (politicians) who have turned us down will come tomorrow asking for votes and say 'give us a chance to serve you'. When the people are giving you the chance to serve, for the country's good, they turn you down. So people will go to jail to teach them a lesson," he added amid thunderous applause from the ever growing crowd of supporters.

The 72-year-old Gandhian said he would not eat till the government gave a role to civil society in drafting a stringent Lokpal Bill.

Amid the growing sea of supporters which included doctors, lawyers, teachers, students, homemakers, Friday saw actor Anupam Kher and Pritish Nandy sitting at Jantar Mantar in support of the movement.

"I want to thank all the youngsters, the school children, who have come to support this movement," Hazare said.

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