Gandhians to fast unto death to weed out corruption

The indefinite hunger strike beginning on the 63rd death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi will see seven Gandhians enlarging their protest canvas from the month-long dharna at Jantar Mantar to another level.

The Gandhians had given a one-month ultimatum to the government to appoint a commission to look into charges against public servants, disqualify candidates with criminal backgrounds and forfeit illegally acquired property of corrupt public servants, including politicians.

"We are going for hunger strike as the government failed to take action on our demands. To sacrifice our life will the only thing we are capable of at this age. Therefore, we will fast unto death unless the government concede to our demands," 93-year-old Shambhu Dutta, who took part in the 1942 Quit India Movement, said.

Recalling old days, 89-year-old A N Khanna said, "We had never seen such height of corruption in our entire lifetime... I will die for a noble cause than die a natural death."
For 84-year-old R S Devi, who once dreamt of Swaraj in the Gandhian era and courted arrests during 1942 Quit India movement, it was a nightmarish experience to fight against own people.

"Once we dreamt of Swaraj from Britishers, today we are fighting corruption encouraged by our own people," she said, adding, "I am still hopeful though to fight till my last breath."
Among those fasting include social activist Govind Narain Seth (78), Murari Lal Gupta (90) who formerly worked in the Defence Ministry and K P Sahu (79), an educationist and a social activist from Orissa.