Who is Anna Hazare?
Kisan Baburao Hazare is an activist who has been recognised for his work in developing and structuring his village Ralegan Siddhi. The government of India honoured the activist in 1992 by awarding him a Padma Bhushan award, but nine years later, the population of India has termed Hazare ‘Desh Ka Naya Gandhi’ for his successful campaign against corruption and his demand for a Lokpal Bill. Hazare is currently camped in Tihar Jail fighting to get the government to accept his draft of the Lokpal Bill. Hazare used to sell flowers at Dadar market till he was recruited in the army in 1962.
What are his credentials?
Anna Hazare has been instrumental in setting up schools, curbing alcoholism in Ralegan Siddhi. Hazare has been fighting corruption on state level sibnce 1991, when he set up a people’s movement to fight corruption. In 1998, Hazare was responsible for the ouster of Maharashtra state Minister for Social Welfare Babanrao Gholap on the grounds of corruption.
In 2003, Hazare fasted again, this time against three ministers from the NCP which resulted in the formation of Sawant Committee — whose report indicted three trusts run by Hazare on account of financial irregularities. Hazare is also one of the people behind the Right to Information movement and also fasted unto death for the government to reverse its decision to remove file noting by government officials from the purview of the act.
How did he take up the Lokpal issue?
In the light of an embarrassing number of scams coming to the forefront, India Against Corruption, a group inspired by a Hong Kong outfit drafted a Jan Lokpal Bill. Riding on the patriotic high of India’s World Cup victory, Anna Hazare joined the IAC movement and started a fast unto death on April 4 to pressurise the government into implementing the Jan Lokpal Bill.
What happened initially?
Hazare started his fast at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on the April 4. The movement was fuelled by social media and gathered steam and hundreds of thousands people lent their support to Hazare across the nation. Hazare was backed by imminent figures like IPS officer Kiran Bedi, activist Arvind Kejriwal, spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and more.
Following the astronomic figures into which the 2G and CWG scams ran, the citizens saw Anna Hazare as a hero and extended their support to him both online and offline. While the India Against Corruption has close to 296,557 fans on popular social networking website Facebook, Anna Hazare’s page has close to 218,019 people liking it. So far, 30,928 people on Facebook have pledged their support to Anna Hazare’s fast to bring the Jan Lokpal Bill.
How did he end the first fast?
On Anna Hazare was assured by PM Manmohan Singh that the Lokpal Bill would be reintroduced in the monsoon session of the Parliament. However, Team Anna, as Anna Hazare and his followers were termed by the media, wanted to be a part of the committee overseeing the passage of the bill. The government remained stubborn and wanted the bill drafting committee to be headed by a government official. Anna Hazare remained adamant on his demand that the committee should be headed by him.
Finally the government conceded to Anna’s demands and Pranab Mukherji was appointed the government representative and chairman to the bill drafting committee and advocate Shanti Bhushan was appointed the civilian co-chairman. And the new-age Gandhi broke his fast among song dance and celebrities, who rejoiced his victory. But the battle had just begun, said the activist.
What did the government do after that?
After announcing that the Lokpal Bill would be brought to the table in the monsoon session of the Parliament, the Government of India announced that the meeting of the drafting committee would be audio recorded for later public consultation. Anna Hazare, who was convinced that his fight for the anti-graft will was far from over threatened the government that if it failed to pass a stringent bill by August 15, 2011 he would go on another fast and intensify his movement. The committee saw a number of clashes between the government and civil society members.
It was then decided that if the committee members couldn’t agree on a joint bill, two versions of the Bill would be sent to the cabinet for consideration. This led Anna Hazare to announce that if the government version of the bill was passed, he would go ahead with his fast on August 16.
Why did the government not table the civil society draft in Parliament?
Although it was decided that both, government and civil society bills, would be tabled in the Parliament, only the government version was tabled. It was said that the Team Anna version brought the PM under the ambit of the Bill which was not acceptable to the government.
How did Anna react when the government did not table their draft in Parliament?
Anna Hazare, a non-violent figure, decided to demonstrate his anger by burning a copy of the government draft of the Bill.
Where does Baba Ramdev figure in all this?
Riding high on the sentiment of fighting injustice, Baba Ramdev launched a fast at the Ramlila Ground to bring back Black Money in foreign banks and tax havens as a national property. It was later found that the Baba had sought permission to hold a Yoga camp.
Citing law and order problems, Delhi Police launched an attack on the Guru and his followers on the night of 5th June. The crowd was tear gassed, lathicharged and packed off to railway stations. In an embarrassing turn of events, the Swami was arrested when he was trying to flee dressed in a salwar kameez.
Why did police arrest Anna on August 16 before his fast?
When Anna was denied police permission for his protest, he threatened to continue with his fast. The police arrested Anna Hazare early on August 16 before he could begin his fast. It was later shared that Hazare would be detained for seven days in Tihar Jail. PM Manmohan Singh in a statement justifying the action against Anna in Loksabha said that the arrest was made as a preventive measure. By continuing his fast, it was apparent that Anna Hazare was about to commit a cognisable offence and hence the arrest was neededs, said the PM.
Who from the government took the decision to arrest Anna?
An exclusive by DNA states that cabinet ministers Kapil Sibal, Ambika Soni and P Chidambaram planned Hazare’s arrest as they thought it was a better idea to deal with the agitation.
Why did Anna not leave jail?
Even though he was released, Anna Hazare continued to stay at Tihar Jail until the Police granted him the permission to hold an indefinite and unconditional fast in Delhi.
What is the compromise now?
Anna Hazare according to the latest report has agreed to hold a conditional fast at the Ramlila Grounds until September 2, 2011. According to the police, a doctor will be present at the location of protest and will examine Anna time to time.
What’s next?
Team Anna has reached an agreement with the government and the activist will continue his fast at Ramlila Grounds in the capital tomorrow. His close aide Kiran Bedi has assured the media there is no perceived threat to the 73-year-old Gandhian and that he was only going to fast until his health permitted him to.
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kollam pakshe full vayikkan pattilla..boradikkunnu