Anna fast venue not yet set
The two political parties–Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)–who have been the key target of anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare-led India Against Corruption (IAC) apparently seem to be leaving no stone unturned to create hurdles for the crusader’s proposed December 27 indefinite hunger strike.
Since the past one week, IAC members have been scouting the open spaces in the city and in nearby satellite towns where their leader Hazare along with 1,000 people can sit on an indefinite fast to protest against the Centre’s deliberate attempts to thwart the clearance of a strong Lokpal bill.
However, despite putting in over eight applications with one of them seeking permission in Navi Mumbai, IAC is yet to receive reply from most of them. The replies from authorities are expected on Monday and a final decision would be taken only after assessing them.
Hazare has threatened that if a strong and independent anti-corruption legislation bill is not cleared during the current Parliament’s winter session, then he would go on an indefinite fast a la August’s Ramleela Ground hunger strike.
Though earlier, the crusader had announced that he would be sitting on an indefinite hunger fast in Delhi, his core team members decided to shift the venue to Mumbai, as Delhi has a bone-chilling winter and that may affect the frail health of the 74-year-old Gandhian.
But here in Mumbai, the Democratic Front (DF) government has other plans for anti-corruption agitators.
The two parties, verbally slapped once too often by the Gandhian, also compose the key partners of the ruling combine.
Thus even as IAC members go around the city knocking the doors of police and civic officials, rules, regulations and excuses plucked straight from the sky are being doled out politely for “not being able to give permission.”
“Congress and NCP of DF are also the rulers and key parties at the Centre and responsible for the deep hiccups taking place in the Parliament when Lokpal bill is mentioned. We wanted Azad Maidan…after all it is a ground with a rich history…but permission cannot be given for more than two days as children have to play cricket,” says IAC (Mumbai) key member Naga Srinivas.
Srinivas agreed that it is not just a couple of thousands or a simple pandal that is needed for the proposed rally.
