India supports Anna Hazare in real and virtual world

By IANS Wednesday, 06 April 2011, 23:35 IST

New Delhi: Students and stars, retired judges and

rights activists, corporates and canny politicians' In a
rare consonance of idea and ideal, thousands of
Indians joined the chorus for a more stringent law
against corruption, a rapidly snowballing movement
propelled by reformer Anna Hazare whose fast-unto-
death entered day two here Wednesday.

In what has become one of the biggest mass

movements in recent times, 72-year-old Hazare's fast
at Jantar Mantar in the Indian capital found resonance
across the country with thousands more coming
forward to join the crusade against corruption - and a
stronger, more comprehensive Lokpal (ombudsman)
bill to fight corruption in public life.

The Manmohan Singh-led government, battling a

series of corruption allegations, fought the
unexpected onslaught and said it was not averse to
civil society's suggestions.

The Lokpal Bill 2010 provides for filing complaints of

corruption against the prime minister, ministers and
MPs with the ombudsman. However, Hazare says the
bill in its present form is toothless and his supporters
had drafted a separate Jan Lokpal bill that calls for
the Lokpal and Lokayuktas (in states) being
independent of government control.

According to India Against Corruption, the banner under which the protests are being held, people from 400 cities
and towns are participating in the movement - one that Hazare calls a second satyagraha, on the lines of the
peaceful protest launched by Mahatma Gandhi against the British.

"This is democracy and we want people's participation in drafting the Lokpal Bill," Hazare told reporters.

The stirring strains of Mahatma Gandhi's favourite hymn "Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram" and the rousing "Vande
Mataram" played as people gathered together for the extraordinary protest and made sure politicians stayed out.

So, Om Prakash Chautala, Ajit Singh, Madan Lal Khurana and Uma Bharati had to make hasty retreat as protesters
said no political party would be allowed to gain mileage from their movement. Similar reports came in from other
parts of the country.

"We want representation from civil society in drafting the Lokpal Bill, 50 percent from civil society and 50 percent from
the government," said Hazare.

The frail Hazare, a former soldier whose work in the drought prone village of Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra became
a global byword for rural development, said he was fine and good for another 10-12 days.

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Thousands flocked to Jantar Mantar, a short distance from Parliament House, which became a virtual lodestone for
all seeking to right governmental wrongs. The gathering included Magsaysay award winners Medha Patkar, Arvind
Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Sandeep Pandey.

Students and human rights activists in the evening held a candlelight march.

Thousands more stepped out of their homes in various states to be counted amongst those in this fight. The word
had spread through mouth and also through social networking sites and SMSes.

At the Lucknow University, for instance, scores gathered at the Jhulelal Park where three social activists have been
fasting since Tuesday.

In Bangalore, four people were on an indefinite fast as part of the nationwide campaign and scores more joined in a
relay hunger strike.

In what appeared to be a truly pan-India sentiment, ditto was the story in Agra and hundreds of other towns.

Even the normally apolitical Bollywood stepped out to pledge its support.

Film star Aamir Khan wrote to Manmohan Singh asking him to pay "heed to the voice of Hazare"

"I am merely one of many who fully support Hazare, and have come to appreciate that this upright man is willing to
sacrifice his life in the fight against corruption."

Veteran actor Anupam Kher tweeted: "When somebody is fighting corruption, I don't judge his ways. I applaud his
intentions and actions. I am with ANNA HAZARE. Are you?:),"

The government tried to extend an olive branch saying it was "certainly not opposed to any of the suggestions".

"We are committed to set up an institutional mechanism to deal with corruption, the prime minister is committed, our
chairperson Sonia Gandhi is committed, so the party is committed, the government is committed," Human Resource
Development Minister Kapil Sibal said.

As the pressure built up, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar stepped down from the high-powered anti-graft
ministerial panel after Hazare's criticised his inclusion.

In the activists' version of the bill, investigation in any graft case will have to be completed in one year and
punishment would be a jail term of minimum five years and maximum of life imprisonment.

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

Another key difference is over the powers to initiate action. While the government view is that the Lokpal will only
investigate complaints forwarded by the Lok Sabha speaker or the Rajya Sabha chairperson, the activists believe the
Lokpal should have the powers to initiate investigations suo motu and also directly get complaints from the public.