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Agitation against corruption in India
The 74-year-old Gandhian Anna Hazre, who was scheduled to
hold a fast against corruption in JP Park on August 16 was taken into custody from a residential area in Mayur Vihar by Delhi Police.
People across India take to the streets to protest against the detention of social activist Anna Hazare and his supporters in New Delhi.
The arrest sparked off angry, widespread protests with reports of people
courting arrests from different parts of the country and opposition parties slamming the move as an attack on democratic and civil rights of
citizens.
Both the Houses of Parliament were adjourned over the issue.
With opposition parties and activists likening government the action to
the emergency imposed in the country in 1975. Blasting the government, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader
Brinda Karat said the detentions were an attack on democratic rights of
people which the government should re-consider. Terming it as a “sad day” for India democracy, Bharatiya Janata Party
leader Arun Jaitley said the move shows that the United Progressive Alliance is a government in panic and has over-reacted. In Patna, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar described Mr. Hazare’s detention
as “murder of democracy” and said it was a “rehearsal of emergency” which the people will never tolerate.
Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare spent the three night in
Tihar Jail from 16th August, 2011 to 18th August 2011 despite being freed by the authorities. He says he
won't leave if conditions against his fast at Jai Prakash Narain Park
aren't removed. After three days in jail, the government has allowed Anna Hazare to
stage a 15-day hunger strike. The Delhi Police on 18th August lifted all the conditions and granted
Anna permission to fast for 14 days at Ramlila Maidan.
Anti-corruption protest in India
Anna Hazare emerged as the face of the mass movement not
only in big cites as Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata but
spread all over India. The protests across cities, helped spread by social networks, have not
only rocked the ruling Congress party, they have sent shockwaves through
the political class. Students, lawyers, teachers, executives and civil servants have taken to
streets in cities and remote villages stretching to the southern end of the country. |
On July 29,
2012: Anna Hazare began an indefinite fast against corruption on Sunday, calling for the establishment of real
"swaraj" or people's rule in the country.*
The 75-year-old began the hunger strike at 10.30 near the Jantar Mantar..
"I am ready to sacrifice my life for the cause. I am confident that
people will not let me die till Jan Lokpal bill is passed." The three key Team Anna members on fast are Arvind Kejriwal, Manish
Sisodia and Gopal Rai.
This is Hazare's third indefinite hunger strike demanding a Jan Lokpal Bill.
The Lokpal Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha in the winter session
2011 year, but got stuck in the Rajya Sabha and was referred to a parliamentary select committee. |
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Over 3,000 people were picked on the charges of unlawful assembly from
across Mumbai on Tuesday after they held demonstrations protesting against the police action against activist Anna
Hazare, hours before he was to launch his fast against corruption, police said. In Bangalore
ormer Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde, urged the youngsters to participate in the movement. “You are
tomorrow’s future. We will support you to the extent that we are here,” said.
One Facebook fan page for Hazare has more than 300,000 followers, while
the India Against Corruption page on Facebook has more than 370,000 followers where links and messages of support are posted. Several
Twitter accounts have been set up by supporters to send out messages of where and when to protest.
More than 30,000 Puneites on Thursday evening staged a massive
candlelight rally from Balgandharva Chowk to Sarasbaug to express their
solidarity with the veteran Gandhian and anti-corruption crusader, Anna
Hazare.The massive crowd moved in perfect unison, raising nationalistic slogans
and singing patriotic songs.The tricolour was a common sight in this sea of humanity.
The rally saw people from all walks of life participating in large numbers. Many of the working professionals had left office early to
participate in the rally.
Anna Hazare's early morning arrest in Delhi, before he could begin his
fast to press for anti-graft lokpal bill, was widely condemned across
Uttar Pradesh, people going on indefinite fast, lawyers not turning up
for work and academicians joining protests. Five people in the state capital have gone on a fast-unto-death at the
Jhulelal Park near the Lucknow University, in support of Hazare's anti-corruption movement.
In Allahabad, the entire court work had to be stopped as lawyers either
didn't turn up for work and those who did, were all in support of Hazare. In Agra, Shaheed Smarak in Sanjay Place was the focal point of the
agitation that took shape. The supporters came on their own and gathered
at platform while raising slogan. Traders, students, social activists and even a common man were outraged
by Anna's arrest in Varanasi. Hundreds of members of the local unit of India Against Corruption
assembled at the Collectorate in protest against Anna's arrest.
Anna Hazre arrest in Delhi
In an early morning swoop on 16th August 2011, the Delhi Police picked up social activist
Anna Hazare from his residence in New Delhi just as he was preparing to leave for Gandhi Samadhi at Rajghat ahead of his fast at J.P. Park to
press for a strong anti-corruption Lokpal Bill. "This is the second fight for freedom and this movement will not halt
now," said Mr. Hazare as he was whisked away with several supporters
trying to stop the vehicle that carried him to the Delhi Police Officers’ Mess at Civil Lines. He was later sent to the Tihar jail after
he reportedly refused to offer surety for his bail before a magistrate.
Manmohan Singh breaks silence
Asserting that Parliament was the sole body to frame laws, Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh said on Wednesday (August 17, 2011) Anna Hazare had sought to impose his
version of Lokpal Bill which was "totally misconceived" and fraught with
"grave consequences" for Parliamentary democracy. Making a statement in both Houses of Parliament in the wake of action
against Hazare and his supporters, Singh said the government acknowledges the right of citizens to hold peaceful protests but
permission for these is given subject to "appropriate conditions". Amid continued chants of "shame shame" by opposition benches, he
appealed to all political parties to ensure that the government and its
processes and Parliament and its processes function smoothly and effectively. |
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Team Anna gives undertaking for protests
On August 18, 2011 Team Anna has given a two-page undertaking to police on its protest fast
in Ramlila Maidan, saying they would abide by existing rules and regulations and the crowd will not exceed the capacity of the ground,
which is around 25,000 people. After three days in jail, the government has allowed Anna Hazare to
stage a 15-day hunger strike. Hazare, who had been arrested earlier in the week and then ordered released, had refused to leave jail until he
was allowed to fast publicly. Hazare's exit was broadcast live as thousands of supporters thronged
outside the jail in a deafening roar of celebration.
Anna Hazare's anti-corruption campaign
Anna
Hazre in Ramlila Ground
Anna Hazare's anti-corruption campaign have struck a patriotic
chord with most protestors. Schoolchildren of all ages made a beeline for
Tihar jail. "Twinkle twinkle little star, Anna is a superstar," the chant went. Putting their street-lingo to best use, some carried "Anna
Rocks!" placards. A few who seemed to have bunked school announced, "School nahin jaayenge, bhrashtachaar mitayenge" (We won't go to school,
we'll eradicate corruption). They also shouted, "Shaheedon hum sharminda
hain, bhrashtachaari zinda hain" (O martyrs, we're ashamed that the corrupt are still alive).
To combat corruption, Hazare proposes a new body Jan Lokpal, independent of
government, to administer high-speed justice. It would have the power to
investigate and prosecute officers, judges and politicians even the
prime minister. His opponents suggest that, while well-intentioned, his proposal would create a Gestapo.
Cong foul play to smear Anna
New Delhi, August 20, 2011 (DHNS): The Congress, which is under fire for the mishandling of the issue of
anti-corruption stir, seems to have played a quick trick on an RTI application concerning Gandhian Anna Hazare and highlighted half-baked
information to paint him in poor light.
The trick seemed to have recoiled
on the ruling party as an RTI response revealed that Hazare, who was not only "honourably
discharged" from the Indian Army as a sepoy after completing his 20 years of service in 1983,
but also had won five medals of honour. Right to Information (RTI ) applicant Subhash Chandra Agrawal has
complained to the Indian Army as to how his application seeking information on Anna's tenure was passed
unauthorized to Congress spokesman Manish Tewari, who had earlier described Hazare as a person
"neck-deep in corruption."
According to the Sena Seva Corp (Abhilekh Dakshin), ASC (South)
Bangalore, ex-sepoy Kisan Hazare was enrolled with the Indian Army on April 14, 1963. He joined the service as a recruit and was attested as
soldier on November 16, 1963 after successful completion of training at
Aurangabad. "Hazare was holding the rank of sepoy at the time of leaving the
service. He was enrolled with terms of engagement of 10 years of colour
service and 10 years of reserve service," the Army said. The replies have come on August 3 on the application filed under the
RTI Act on April 13. To a specific query, the Army said that he had successfully completed his service.
"Yes, he was honourably discharged from Indian Army on successful
completion of service. As per records held with this office, he had never deserted the Indian Army," it said.
Hazare had been felicitated with Sanya Seva medal, Sangram medal, 25 Independent anniversary medal, besides two others, the Army said.
The popularity of Anna
Hazare in the ex-servicemen community
The popularity of Anna Hazare's anti-corruption campaign has been growing by the day. The
Gandhian, who had earlier served the nation as a soldier, received support from
the ex-servicemen community in Chandigarh in his crusade against corruption. A large number of ex-servicemen along with their wives took to streets
on Monday voicing their support to Hazare. It was the first such demonstration by the defence community in favour of the
Gandhian.They were seen shouting slogans and waving the national flag as the protesters marched through the city.
The ex-servicemen came out wearing their medals as a symbol of their respect for
Hazare.
Super star Rajnikant supports Anna |
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Angry Birds-styled Anna Hazare game hits the web
Anna Hazare is the latest storm to have taken over not only India, but
the world too, for obvious reasons. With the influence of the protests,
and the rampant corruption every aspect seems to have got the Anna hue.
The latest to have caught the fad, is an Angry Birds-like modelled game,
aptly titled Angry Anna.
To Play the game
Angry Anna Hazre game
Rahul
Gandhi in Parliament
On August 26, 2011 Rahul Ghandhi thanked Anna Hazare
in Parliament for highlighting the issue of corruption through his campaign.
Sharing the concern on corruption, Rahul Gandhi said the need of the
hour was not just a strong Lokpal but to go a step beyond and make the
Lokpal a constitutional body like the Election Commission.
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