Govt surrenders before Anna Hazare
Anna Hazare has a way of embarrasing the Government. Or should I say that the Government ends up embarassing itself being unable to understand what he wants to say or being unable to grasp the depth of the situation.
In the present instance, Anna Hazare and his team was in negotiations with the Govt since long for creating a strong Lokpal for the nation. Instead, what the Govt came up with is just opposite to what people of the country expected. When the entire country is being rocked by allegation of corruption at every level, what was expected of the government is a strong anti-corruption law. But, instead the government came up with a legislation where corruption is aimed at being protected. According to the new law, if anyone lodges any complaint any govt servant, and is unable to prove it, he will be liable to counter-prosecution. Secondly the law does not cover the entire bureaucracy. It does not cover the members of the parliament, the judiciary. So, essentially it is a law that does not intend cover most of the area where corruption is happening, and it imposes the fear of counter prosecution in the minds of the complainant.
So Anna Hazare decided to go on indefinite hunger strike in protest against govt's double speak from 16th August 2011.
But the Delhi police (at the instruction of central govt), put illogical conditions to anna hazare, which he had to sign to get permission to start the fast. Anna refused to sign the 6 points which he thought was improper and restrictive. And he announced that he and his followers will go on indefinite fast from 16th of August 2011.
But even before he and his followers could start their fast, all of them were arrested by the police. That incident touched a raw nerve of the people on the street. in every city on the country, thousands gathered immediately, wearing the cap 'I am Anna', to sympathise with Anna. By the same day evening, govt has decided to release Anna and all his follwers. But this time, Anna, who was in Tihar Jail, refused to leave. He demanded that he be allowed to go on indefinite fast without any pre-conditions. Now the Govt was in back foot. The entire nation was up in arms, the opppsition was in protest inside parliament. So thruout the night, hectic parleys went on. By next day Govt. has all but surrendered to Anna's demand that he be allowed to go on a fast without restrictions. Even yoga guru Ramdev came down from Hardwar to meet him personally inside Tihar jail. Sri sri Ravi shankar went to Delhi to meet Anna hazare inside the jail. By next day govt had released all of anna's follwers from jail. Outside the jail thousands of people held candel-light vigil thruout the day and night. And all across the country more of more people started protesting by forming groups. Each was is wearing the cap 'I am Anna'.
News channels across the country lapped up the issue. Every person on the street was asking one question 'why keep the most corrupt Kalmadi, Raja etc. and anti-corruption crusader Sri anna hazare in same jail?'. 'What is the message that the Govt is giving to the people?'. 'Hasan Ali ko bail, Anna Hazare ko jail?'.
So ultimately on 18th August '2011, Govt agreed to allow Anna Hazare to go on a indefinite hunger strike. They allowed him to use Ram leela maidan for the occassion. But Anna refused to go out of prison, until the maidan was made ready for his fasting. Govt promptly agreed to do that too.
So the first round was a solid victory for Anna and his followers.
Links:
Sri Anna Hazare and his colleagues' India Against Corruption Web Site
Anna's release being flashed aross the Net
People waiting eagerly for the release of Sri Anna Hazare
In the present instance, Anna Hazare and his team was in negotiations with the Govt since long for creating a strong Lokpal for the nation. Instead, what the Govt came up with is just opposite to what people of the country expected. When the entire country is being rocked by allegation of corruption at every level, what was expected of the government is a strong anti-corruption law. But, instead the government came up with a legislation where corruption is aimed at being protected. According to the new law, if anyone lodges any complaint any govt servant, and is unable to prove it, he will be liable to counter-prosecution. Secondly the law does not cover the entire bureaucracy. It does not cover the members of the parliament, the judiciary. So, essentially it is a law that does not intend cover most of the area where corruption is happening, and it imposes the fear of counter prosecution in the minds of the complainant.
So Anna Hazare decided to go on indefinite hunger strike in protest against govt's double speak from 16th August 2011.
But the Delhi police (at the instruction of central govt), put illogical conditions to anna hazare, which he had to sign to get permission to start the fast. Anna refused to sign the 6 points which he thought was improper and restrictive. And he announced that he and his followers will go on indefinite fast from 16th of August 2011.
But even before he and his followers could start their fast, all of them were arrested by the police. That incident touched a raw nerve of the people on the street. in every city on the country, thousands gathered immediately, wearing the cap 'I am Anna', to sympathise with Anna. By the same day evening, govt has decided to release Anna and all his follwers. But this time, Anna, who was in Tihar Jail, refused to leave. He demanded that he be allowed to go on indefinite fast without any pre-conditions. Now the Govt was in back foot. The entire nation was up in arms, the opppsition was in protest inside parliament. So thruout the night, hectic parleys went on. By next day Govt. has all but surrendered to Anna's demand that he be allowed to go on a fast without restrictions. Even yoga guru Ramdev came down from Hardwar to meet him personally inside Tihar jail. Sri sri Ravi shankar went to Delhi to meet Anna hazare inside the jail. By next day govt had released all of anna's follwers from jail. Outside the jail thousands of people held candel-light vigil thruout the day and night. And all across the country more of more people started protesting by forming groups. Each was is wearing the cap 'I am Anna'.
News channels across the country lapped up the issue. Every person on the street was asking one question 'why keep the most corrupt Kalmadi, Raja etc. and anti-corruption crusader Sri anna hazare in same jail?'. 'What is the message that the Govt is giving to the people?'. 'Hasan Ali ko bail, Anna Hazare ko jail?'.
So ultimately on 18th August '2011, Govt agreed to allow Anna Hazare to go on a indefinite hunger strike. They allowed him to use Ram leela maidan for the occassion. But Anna refused to go out of prison, until the maidan was made ready for his fasting. Govt promptly agreed to do that too.
So the first round was a solid victory for Anna and his followers.
Links:
Sri Anna Hazare and his colleagues' India Against Corruption Web Site
Anna's release being flashed aross the Net
People waiting eagerly for the release of Sri Anna Hazare
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