Anna Hazare's movement against corruption

On 6th of April 2011, Sri Anna Hazare, a respected Gandhian, and Magsaysay prize winner, went on an indefinite hunger strike, in demand of setting up a Lokpal which will have power to investigate and prosecute corruption in politicial classes. Anna was joined by well-known people like Arvind kejriwal, Baba Ramdev, Kiran Bedi, Swami Agnivesh and many others. Nearly 100 of them went on an indefinite fast along with Anna Hazare at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi. Their main demands were a) Enact a law for a Lokpal that will have power to investigate all corruption charges against anyone including Ministers, b) People from civil society should be included in the panel that will draft the Lokpal Bill.

The Lokpal Bill, has been lying with the central govt since 1969. It was originally drafted by Mr. Shanti Bhushan, who is a promionent lawyer of Supreme court and also was the law minster at that time. Mr Prashant Bhusan and his son Mr. Shanti Bhushan are prominent lawyers supporting Anna Hazare. Apart from them Justice Santosh Hegde(the lok ayukta of Karnataka) also extened support for Anna Hazare.

As for the Goverment, it had in the past 42 years, introduced the Lokpal Bill several times, but as compared to the proposed bill that Anna Hazare was proposing, the goverment's draft was a much weaker version.

The intentions of the political parties has always been suspect in this regard. For example Mr. L.K. Advani met Justice Hegde, the Karnataka Lok Ayukta, last month, and gave him promise that his party (BJP) will bring a law for Lok Ayukta which will cover the politicians.

But immediately after that, Mr Yediyurappa of BJP, Karnataka C.M., brought a law which excludes elected representatives from purview of the law. This is said to be done in consultation with Mr. Advani.

The central goverment's draft of the Lok Pal Bill was a much diluted version and it did not have any real power.

Very soon, people from all across the country went on fast, just like before independence, in verious cities, in support of Anna's movement.

By 4th day, central govt was already negotiating with Anna Hazare thru Swami Agnivesh, who is also a supporter of Anna Hazare.

On 5th Day, the govt not only agreed to all the demands of Anna Hazare, but also published gazzette notification to that effect. The Goverment also agreed to include 5 eminent person from society in the panel to draft the proposed Lok Pal bill. They are Justice Santosh Hedge of Bangalore, Shanti Bhushan and his son Prashant Bhushan, Arvind Kejriwal and Anna Hazare himself.