Anna Hazare Reaches Rajghat, Hundreds Join in Support


New Delhi, April 5 (IANS) Veteran social activist Anna Hazare, who has vowed to fast unto death, Tuesday reached Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Rajghat to press for a stronger anti-graft Lokpal Bill through greater involvement of civil society in its formulation.

The Magsaysay Award winner activist, along with supporters, reached Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Rajghat at 10 a.m., after which he is expected to stage a march from India Gate to the Jantar Mantar, a stone's throw from Parliament House, where Hazare will begin his fast.

Those accompanying Hazare include Right To Information (RTI) activist Arind Kejriwal and former top cop Kiran Bedi.

"I will fast unto death as announced earlier, as the prime minister has refused to form a joint committee with civil society members in it for the formulation of the Lokpal Bill. Even if I lose my life, I will have no regret, my life is dedicated to the nation," Hazare had said at a press meet earlier.

Hazare and several other civil society activists are pressing for adoption of an alternate bill, called Jan Lokpal Bill.

The Jan Lokpal Bill calls for setting up ombudsmen - Lokpal and Lokayuktas (in states) - independent of the government's control in order to check corruption in public life.

Activists say investigations by ombudsmen should be completed in one year and there should be a minimum jail term of five years and maximum punishment of life imprisonment.

The government's version, however, recommends a prison term of a minimum six months and a maximum punishment of seven years for corruption.

Hundredrs of supporters have already gathered at Rajghat, India Gate and Jantar Mantar where Hazare will be staging his protest march.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had Monday expressed "deep disappointment" over Hazare's decision to go ahead with the planned hunger strike, but said he had enormous respect for the social worker and his mission.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Dinesh, USA

    Wed, Apr 06 2011

    INDIA against Corruption is the movement of every Citizens of India, and they would not prove themselves Cowards to stand against Corruption like Politicians. ANNA HAZARE must be supported for better future of Current and Future generations. This is the Freedom Fight against the slavery of Corrupts and Looters. PM Manmohan is like a FLY caught in the SPIDER NET of it’s own Corrupt Spider Politicians who has no WILL to pass BILL, and India cannot expect any better. This movement is motivated on the principles of Mahatma Gandhi for better India. Go ANNA Go, India is with you to bring JAN LOKPAL BILL. JAI HIND.

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  • shahnawaz kukkikatte, dubai/udupi

    Tue, Apr 05 2011

    The whole of India excpet corrupt politicians and bureaucrats are with Anna Saheb. We need to build a strong nation, wipe out corruption and stop the widening gap between haves and have nots. The bureaucrats and politicians are enjoying public money earned and horded by illegal means, thats the reason they have no political will to enact jan lokpal bill. Today our country tops the list in two things, first in population growth and second in corruption... We need more Anna Hazares....Whats the meaning of our PMs remarks that "deep disappointment" ?????:

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