Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare started an indefinite hunger strike at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on Friday, March 23, demanding the setting up of the anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal, seven years after he sat on a similar hunger strike with the same demand.<\/p>\n
He reached Ramlila Maidan, where thousands of his supporters have gathered, after paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. The day, March 23, has been chosen on purpose as this is the anniversary of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev’s hanging to death by the British, said an aide of Hazare’s, according to media reports.<\/p>\n
The activist has been pressing for setting up the Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in the states. Hazare is also demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report to address the agrarian crisis in the country.<\/p>\n
In 2011, Anna Hazare’s was agitating against the then UPA government at the centre for setting up a Lokpal, and his anti-corruption movement had caught the imagination of millions of Indians. This time Anna Hazare’s target is the Narendra Modi-led BJP government, which has not set up a Lokpal to investigate cases of corruption.<\/p>\n
Anna Hazare had written to PM Modi stating that he would launch an agitation over the appointment of Lokpal and Lokayukta as well as implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report on August 31, reported NDTV.<\/p>\n
Last month, he accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not being interested in the appointment of the Lokpal at the Centre. The veteran anti-corruption crusader said Modi was “never serious about Lokpal”.<\/p>\n
Last Sunday, he said he was sitting silent on these issues for the last three years trying to communicate with the BJP-led Central government over them.<\/p>\n
Anna Hazare said, “Since there has been no response from your side, I have decided to launch an agitation in Delhi. I will continue with the protest until the demands are met.”<\/p>\n
Hazare also slammed the central government for its “sly attitude” and accused the government of cancelling trains carrying protesters to Delhi. He said that the government wanted to push the protesters to violence.<\/p>\n
Hazare added that the police force has been deployed for him as well even when he has written in many letters that he didn’t need police protection. “Your protection won’t save me. This sly attitude of the government is not done,” said Hazare.<\/p>\n
“This will be a satyagrah for Jan Lokpal, farmers’ issues, and poll reforms. At least 1.2 million (12 lakh) farmers have committed suicide in the past 22 years. I want to know the number of industrialists who committed suicide during this period,” Hazare said.<\/p>\n
Key demands of Anna Hazare’s indefinite hunger strike this time are setting up of the Lokpal at the centre and Lokayuktas in the states and implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report that assures fair pay for farmers.<\/p>\n
\nYou cancelled trains carrying protesters to #Delhi<\/a>, you want to push them to violence. Police Force deployed for me as well. I wrote in many letters that I don’t need police protection. Your protection won’t save me. This sly attitude of the government is not done: Anna Hazare pic.twitter.com\/Ue91oXsnzG<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n