Anna ends fast, vows more anti-graft crusade
December 11th, 2011 - 7:18 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, Dec 11 (IANS) Social activist Anna Hazare Sunday vowed to continue his anti-corruption crusade, and if need be hold street protests and fill jails, till the government heeds the will of the people for a strong Lokpal law.
Addressing a huge gathering at Jantar Mantar after breaking his symbolic day-long fast, Hazare threatened to intensify the stir by courting arrest if the government fails to pass a law in the winter session of parliament for a strong Lokpal that covers the entire bureaucracy and the prime minister under its purview.
“The government should listen to the voice of the people. Agitation will continue for a strong Lokpal,” said Hazare, flanked by leaders of various political parties who debated in favour of an effective ombudsman.
Hazare told the politicians — including Arun Jaitley of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Brinda Karat of the Communist Party of India-Marxist and A.B. Bardhan of the Communist Party of India — to fight for a strong Lokpal inside the parliament and force the government to pass an effective law.
“You fight inside parliament, we will fight outside. If the government disagrees you should join us in street protests,” he said.
“Come to the streets for a larger campaign. Let us see how the government does not listen to us.”
He said if the Lokpal bill is not passed in the winter session, his supporters would intensify their protests and let themselves get arrested to fill the jails of India.
“Not a single jail should be left empty, such will be our campaign,” he said, to thunderous applause from his supporters.
The politicians earlier backed Hazare on having a strong ombudsman with the prime minister under its ambit but cautioned that he should be rigid about getting his version of the bill adopted.
He thanked the youth in particular for coming out in large numbers for the day-long agitation.
Hazare launched a bitter attack on the government saying it was “intoxicated” by power.
He reiterated his warning to the government to go on an indefinite fast from Dec 27 if it does not pass a strong Lokpal bill.
- Anna gets Left, right support for strong Lokpal (Roundup) - Dec 11, 2011
- Government plans Lokpal bill in winter session; Anna threatens agitation - Dec 15, 2011
- Anna threatens renewed agitation, PM says committed to pass Lokpal (Roundup) - Dec 17, 2011
- No permission yet to Team Anna : MCD - Nov 29, 2011
- Team Anna to discuss strategy for Ramlila stir - Dec 13, 2011
- Anna returns with anti-graft protest, threatens more agitation (Roundup) - Mar 25, 2012
- PM is honest but remote controlled, moans Anna (Lead) - Dec 18, 2011
- Hazare is impatient, says Congress - Dec 26, 2011
- Will agitate again if bill not passed: Anna Hazare - Dec 13, 2011
- Lokpal panel still divided on inclusion of PM (Second Lead) - Nov 30, 2011
- Lokpal panel still divided on inclusion of PM (Lead) - Nov 30, 2011
- Anna Hazare reiterates stand on protest, 'jail bharo' - Dec 17, 2011
- Winter session should be extended: Anna - Dec 15, 2011
- Lokpal Bill in this session, don't doubt our intent: PM (Lead) - Dec 17, 2011
- Anna likely to protest at Jantar Mantar - Nov 28, 2011
Tags: agitation, ambit, anna hazare, bardhan, bharatiya janata party, bureaucracy, communist party of india, communist party of india marxist, crusade, jails, large numbers, mantar, New Delhi, ombudsman, political parties, purview, social activist, street protests, thunderous applause, winter session