Anna ready with another challenge
25 July 2012 1:31 AM GMT
Team Anna is ready throw another challenge at the United Progressive Alliance government. There was a talk of divisions within the team earlier, after Anna Hazare decided to hold fast with the yoga guru Ramdev next month. But now, in a last-minute change of strategy, Hazare made clear on Tuesday that he too will join the indefinite fast starting from Wednesday at Jantar Mantar. However, he will join it only on Saturday and that too if the government does not give in the mean time.
Hazare reached New Delhi on Tuesday. He said, 'I will fast this time. We had earlier decided that I will not sit on a fast. But seeing the enthusiasm of people, I felt I should also sit on the fast,' said Anna.
Accusing the government and the law minister Salman Khurshid of trying to divide his team, Hazare said that the government had betrayed the cause of the Lokpal in the cabinet committee, the joint committee and even in Parliament and it has been changing stand repeatedly. He added that if their demands are not met, he would start a jail-bharo agitation.
Besides a strong Lokpal Bill, Hazare also wants a Special Investigation Team to probe corruption allegations against union ministers and a fast track court to try cases against MPs.
Hazare was not scheduled to sit on the fast, with his team members – Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Gopal Rai – doing it in his presence. However, there was debate within the team if that strategy would succeed.
Hazare accused the government of creating a false CD to malign him. He said that if the be, he would move court to get to the bottom of the matter and expose the people behind it.
Team Anna will sit on an indefinite fast at Delhi's Jantar Mantar from Wednesday, the day when the new president Pranab Mukherjee is sworn-in. Its members have said that they would give proof of Mukherjee's involvement in corrupt activities.
The renewed agitation comes just two weeks before Parliament meets for the monsson session. The team has got permission to fast at Jantar Mantar till 8 August, the day the monsoon session is scheduled to begin.
Hazare reached New Delhi on Tuesday. He said, 'I will fast this time. We had earlier decided that I will not sit on a fast. But seeing the enthusiasm of people, I felt I should also sit on the fast,' said Anna.
Accusing the government and the law minister Salman Khurshid of trying to divide his team, Hazare said that the government had betrayed the cause of the Lokpal in the cabinet committee, the joint committee and even in Parliament and it has been changing stand repeatedly. He added that if their demands are not met, he would start a jail-bharo agitation.
Besides a strong Lokpal Bill, Hazare also wants a Special Investigation Team to probe corruption allegations against union ministers and a fast track court to try cases against MPs.
Hazare was not scheduled to sit on the fast, with his team members – Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Gopal Rai – doing it in his presence. However, there was debate within the team if that strategy would succeed.
Hazare accused the government of creating a false CD to malign him. He said that if the be, he would move court to get to the bottom of the matter and expose the people behind it.
Team Anna will sit on an indefinite fast at Delhi's Jantar Mantar from Wednesday, the day when the new president Pranab Mukherjee is sworn-in. Its members have said that they would give proof of Mukherjee's involvement in corrupt activities.
The renewed agitation comes just two weeks before Parliament meets for the monsson session. The team has got permission to fast at Jantar Mantar till 8 August, the day the monsoon session is scheduled to begin.
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