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Jananeethi
& Jananeethi Institute condemn the arrest of Anna Hazare on August
16th 2011 in Delhi to prevent his intended fast demanding a
stronger anti-corruption Lokpal Bill. The government of India, by
resorting to its fascist, repressive and dictatorial action in fury, has
re-established the dangerous precedent set during the Emergency in 1975.
We, with feelings of shame and horror, understand that history repeats
itself in shocking details. History holds many lessons but only for
those who care. No
representative government in a democracy can deny citizens their
fundamental right to
dissent and peaceful protest. The arrest of Anna Hazare and hundreds of
his supporters was unconstitutional, undemocratic and unethical. It was
a desperate move by the government to douse the burning embers of the
anti-corruption wave sweeping the country. Fight
corruption by all means is a democratic, constitutional and legal right
of the people. Indefinite fast for a strong Jan Lokpal Bill was a fight
against corruption and to save democracy. The importance of Parliament
should be respected, but there is a supreme parliament – the people
– and it should get higher respects. In
the circumstances, we the members of Jananeethi Family, earnestly call
upon the government of India to shun its egoistic hubris and listen to
the aspirations of the people. Anna Hazare and the members of Team Anna
who were arrested on the 16th should immediately be set free
and the Bill in question should be subjected to nation-wide debates
before it is taken to Parliament for final and formal proceedings. For Jananeethi Family, George
Pulikuthiyil Executive
Director. August
17, 2011.
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