Nearly seven years after sparking off a nationwide anti-corruption movement, social activist Anna Hazare was back at the Ramlila grounds in the Capital on Friday, commencing an indefinite hunger strike.
Mr Hazare, in his ‘Jan Andolan Satyagraha’, demanded immediate implementation of the Lokpal Act, solution to the agrarian distress in the country and a better electoral process.
The activist first visited the Mahatama Gandhi Samadhi at Rajghat before he reached Ramlila Maidan around 12 p.m. along with thousands of his supporters from across the country. Sitting cross-legged , Mr Hazare said “Is baar, ya to aar ya paar (It’s either now or never)”.
Mr Hazare said that it’s disappointing that the Lokpal hasn’t been implemented ever since it was passed in 2014. He claimed that he has written to the government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi several times regarding the matter but received no response which is why he decided to go on a hunger strike again.
Talking about the issues of farmers, the activist said that the farmers are in a pitiable state in the country and lakhs of them have committed suicide till date. “I demand that, most importantly, they should be given pension of Rs 5,000 every month and should be given better prices for their yield. Those who can’t take care of themselves, government should take care of them,” he said from the podium as thousand gave him a round of applause.
In the third demand of "Saksham Kisan, Sashakt Lokpal, Chunaav Sudhaar”, Mr Hazare said that electoral process should be made better with NOTA being given the status of ‘Right To Reject’ and totalizer machines should be used for counting votes.
The activist also alleged that journey of the supporters coming from other states was deliberately delayed. “Trains of people coming from UP, Karnataka and other states were delayed for more than 10 hours. Do they want that people should turn violent to stage protest?” he said.
Mr Hazare said that no politician or members of political party will be allowed to join the demonstration and people have been asked to sign a document pledging they’ll not join any political party. Taking a dig at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who was on strike with Mr Hazare in 2011, the activist said, “People came last time and then made their own parties or joined another party. This time, no one is allowed and if they come, they won’t be allowed to sit with me”.
