New Delhi: Many of us may remember the hunger strike staged by Social Activist by Anna Hazare against the then Central Government to weed out corruption completely from the nation. He caught the imagination of millions of Citizens in India and as a result the UPA government became unstable.
And this time again he is going to stage another hunger strike almost for the same reason after seven years of the first strike in the year 2011. And this time he will go on the strike to protest the government’s failure to setup the promise made to set up Lokpal to investigate cases of corruption in the government agencies.
But there is something different this time. If you had guessed it out to be the government at the centre, then, yes, you are absolutely right! The first hunger strike was against UPA government at the centre and this time its Narendra Modi-led BJP government. The last time it was for setting up of Lokpal and this time its about the failure of the government to setup.
The demands of Mr Hazare were to set up Lokpal at the Central level and Lokayuktas in the states, besides implementing the Swaminathan Commission report which suggests many ways that helps address the agrarian distress.
In a previous statement, he had accused the Union government of not appointing the Lokpal to investigate the cases of corruption, despite there was a law in place.
“Anna will first visit the Rajghat and then come to the Ram Lila Maidan, where he will go an indefinite strike,” said an supporter of Hazare.
The day when he shall do a hunger strike will be March 23. The reason behind the decision is cited that on the same day freedom fighters such as Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were hanged to death by the British, the aide said.
Yesterday, a meeting was held among the core committee of trusted aides of Hazare and farmer’s organization representatives at the New Maharashtra Sadan.
Mr Hazare took a round of the Ram Lila Maidan today. Thousands of people are expected to attend the protest which will start tomorrow.
Due to the increasing corruption cases during the UPA regime at the Centre, Mr Hazare agitated in 2011 to protest the situation at which the government was running. And after his initiation, he received support of millions people across the country.
The agitation resulted in the formation of Aam Aadmi Party later on, which a chunk of the members from the same strike. The same Party later won elections in Delhi. Mr Arvind Kejriwal who is now Delhi CM was one among Mr Hazare’s key supporters.
As the time is near for the hunger strike, the Traffic Police in Delhi has issued an advisory warning to Delhiates to be prepared for traffic snarls that may result due to the rush for the meeting. They had advised to avoid taking routes towards Aruna Asaf Ali Road, Delhi Gate, Darya Ganj, New Delhi Railway Station, Ajmeri Gate, Paharganj, ITO, Rajghat, Minto Road, Vivekanand Marg, and JLN Marg.
Mr Hazare and all his supporters are slated to vist the Rajghat at first and then they shall start marching to Shaheedi Pak and after that they will end up their march at Ram Lila Maidan for the proposed meeting.