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New Delhi:
Septuagenarian social activist Anna Hazare began an indefinite
fast against corruption here Sunday brushing away concerns about
his health, saying people would not let him die till the Jan
Lokpal bill for setting up an ombudsman was passed.
Hazare, 75, began his fast at 10.30 a.m. at the Jantar Mantar in
the heart of the capital, very near the seat of the Indian
government. It is his third indefinite fast in the capital in just
over a year. The soldier-turned-activist's 12-day long-fast in
August last year had attracted massive following and forced the
government to get working on a Lokpal bill.
Some 350 others, including three Team Anna members, have been
fasting at the site since Wednesday. Fifteen of them had to be
hospitalized after their condition deteriorated.
Addressing the crowd of a few thousands, Hazare said: "I am ready
to sacrifice my life for the cause. I am confident that people
will not let me die."
"People will not let me die till Jan Lokpal bill is passed," said
Hazare as his supporters cheered.
He also said that though India was a democracy, the people had
forgotten the real meaning of the word and it was time to awaken
the people for a return to real people's power.
"They (politicians) are servants and we people are the owners; but
the picture today is that people have become the servant and the
politicians are the owner," he thundered to loud cheers.
"This movement is to awaken the people," Hazare said.
Hazare denied accusations that Team Anna was deviating from its
stated aim of getting the Jan Lokpal Bill passed in parliament.
"It is the government which is moving away from its path. Our main
demand is to get the Jan Lokpal Bill passed."
He quickly added that as long as all 15 ministers in the Manmohan
Singh government who Hazare alleges are corrupt remain in
parliament, the Lokpal Bill will not be passed.
He also touched on yoga guru Baba Ramdev sharing the dais with
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad, saying: "I do
not want to be dragged into this muddy debate", and then warned:
"Don't try to divide us."
He added immediately that if he saw the movement becoming
directionless "I will stop it right there."
Later Hazare launched a book titled "Swaraj" by Team Anna member
Arvind Kejriwal, who is also on fast at the venue.
Besides Kejriwal, two other team members on fast are Manish
Sisodia, and Gopal Rai.
Earlier, Hazare used diplomatic language to criticise Saturday's
surprise protest by some of his supporters outside Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh's official residence.
He said the protest was a reaction by people angry with the
government. However he advised his supporters to "think before
doing any such things" in future.
The crowds appeared to be more Sunday compared to earlier days.
While the crowd was largely dominated by youngsters, the elderly
also turned up in huge numbers.
Shilpa Gupta, an Anna supporter, told IANS: "I was not able to
come the last four days. I decided to come to Jantar Mantar today
to join the fight against corruption."
Harkishan Gupta, a 69-year-old retired government official, told
IANS: "The government can say anything it wants to, but the fact
is that somebody has been keeping up this fight against
corruption."
A group of young chartered accountants have volunteered to manage
the donations for India Against Corruption, run by Team Anna
members, at the venue. Saksham Mittal, 32, an accountant with a
private firm, said he could not join the movement last August "but
this time I did not want to miss the opportunity," Mittal said.
The Lokpal Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha in the winter session
last year, but got stuck in the Rajya Sabha and was referred to a
parliamentary select committee. It was expected to be tabled
during the budget session but was not. Team Anna members are
demanding that their version of the bill be incorporated and
passed by parliament.
Team Anna has permission to fast at Jantar Mantar till Aug 8, the
day the parliament's monsoon session is expected to begin.
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