In Solidarity with Anna Hazare

 

Veteran social activist, Anna Hazare, on Tuesday, the 5th April 2011, began a fast unto death in New Delhi’s landmark Jantar Mantar demanding greater public role in the Anti-Corruption Bill (Lokpal Bill) which has now been considered and  put aside by successive regimes for the last 42 years. Joined by scores of people including noted reformist Swami Agnivesh, former IPS officer and activist Kiran Bedi and Magsaysay award winner Sandeep Pandey, 72-year-old Hazare began his hunger strike after paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.

Jananeethi and Jananeethi Institute strongly endorse the cause and declare unqualified support to most revered Anna Hazare in his noblest attempt to check corruption in the country. Hazare wants the Lokpal's office to subsume the CVC so that both political leaders and officials come under its ambit as well as the judiciary. He also wants the Lokpal to have police powers — that is, to not just be a recommendatory body but an effective office that can file FIRs, charge sheet the accused and file cases. Hazare and other activists have been demanding for the Prime Minister's Office to come within the ambit of the Lokpal.

The citizens are demanding a strict law to fight corruption in the country. They felt that the Jan Lokpal Bill, drafted by citizen activists Arvind Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan and Kiran Bedi, will be a powerful tool to stamp out corruption. The bill has been sought to be diluted by the Central government so that its clauses lack the necessary teeth to tackle corruption, the activists said.

It is really heartening that many activists in several cities and towns too started fast and addressed large number of people. Social activist Medha Patkar said that the historic hunger strike by veteran Anna Hazare will once again prove the power of Gandhian philosophy of non-violence.

Jananeethi together with democratic, human rights and civil liberty groups of Thrissur district in Kerala will fast on 8th April 2011 in front of Thrissur Municipal Corporation from 10 am to 6 pm in support of Anna Hazare’s fast and his crusade against corruption.

 All our friends and fellow activists are cordially invited to join us
on 8th April at 10 am in front of the Thrissur Corporation Office.

 

April 6, 2011