Rebuffing attempts by the Congress to drop three-day fast, social activist Anna Hazare on Monday after paying obeisance at Sant Dnyaneshwar’s samadhi, at Alandi, left for ‘battle-field Mumbai.’
He told the local press that he is undertaking fast, “because past experience has shown that government has been trying to push a strong anti-graft bill into pending files after things quieten down.”
Surrounded by news camerapersons, 74-year-old Hazare at Ralegan Siddi said, “They formed a joint committee and then quietly in the joint committee did a volte-face and the standing committee later also did a U-turn. So what do you do? I am forced to do it, so that the issue remains alive.”
Waxing on the Jan Lokpal bill, Hazare reminded the press that the Prime Minister had given a written assurance during August agitation that the bill would be passed in Parliament, “but again they ditched everybody. It is sheer compulsion that led to the launch of anti-corruption movement.”
To a query that the entire movement has been singularly attacking a particular political party, Hazare for the first time said that the agitation has nothing to do with Congress politics.
He stated, “For 25 years we have been fighting corruption. I would like to ask Congress in the last 25 years how many have led movements against you? Our fight is against corruption and it is as simple as that.”
Harking back to the earlier agitation for getting the Right to Information Act passed, the crusader said “ People had to fight for over 10 years to get this bill passed.
“The political class is angry at us only because it is through money they come to power and after entrenching themselves in power they mint money.”
Interestingly, on being asked where he would be putting up for the night in Mumbai, before he embarks for the battle which begins on Wednesday morning, Hazare said “My supporters have arranged for that and I am not sure where it is...but I would begin my fast only after garlanding Mahatma Gandhi's statue in Juhu.”
Motorbike escort
Thereafter, the crusader would be escorted by a fleet of Royal Enfield motorbikes from Juhu beach to MMRDA Ground at Bandra-Kurla Complex, dotting the borders of island city.
The fast will begin at 11 am, “the time when Parliament will begin debating the Lokpal bill.”
IAC also clarified that the reports indicating the frail health of the crusader, stating “He had chills and cough but now he is alright and doctors have given him clean chit.” Like in the August agitation, India Against Corruption is expecting around a lakh of supporters trooping in and out .
“This time we are expecting people from the hinterlands of Maharashtra but in our jail bharo andolan which is going to be launched after the fast we are expecting people from across the country at Delhi’s Ramlila Ground,” said India Against Corruption media-points-person Preeti Sharma Menon.
Talking to the media Kiran Bedi outside MMRDA Ground said, “It is sad that a 74-year-old man has to undertake fast in order to get a bill cleared which would bring the country out from the dirty state of corruption.
“India is today ranked as one of the most corrupt countries in the world and that is why the clearing of a strong anti-graft bill is extremely important.”
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