By IANS,
New Delhi: Gandhian Anna Hazare Wednesday observed a daylong fast here to denounce the police crackdown on yoga guru Baba Ramdev and said a “second independence struggle” was on to banish corruption from India – a call that struck an instant cord across India.
While the government said it was serious about a tough anti-corruption Lokpal bill, the Congress party took exception to the 73-year-old Hazare’s call, saying a subversion of the political system could not be allowed.
Gathering at Rajghat from early morning, the crowds swelled into thousands at the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi where Anna observed his little over eight-hour hunger strike – his second in two months.
“We have started the second independence struggle but you should not back off. We will be ready to die but we will not surrender,” the Gandhian said to the cheering supporters.
He said if the Lokpal Bill was not passed by the government, he would launch an indefinite hunger strike Aug 16, a day after India’s independence day.
“They are putting roadblocks on the path of the Lokpal Bill,” he said, and charged the government with trying to defame his associates, including Shanti Bhushan, Prashant Bhushan and Arvind Kejriwal who along with Santosh Hegde form the civil society representatives in a 10-member panel set up to frame the proposed legislation.
He also denounced the police action at Ramlila ground here midnight Saturday against Ramdev and thousands of his supporters which led to the expulsion of the yoga guru from Delhi and injured over 100 people.
“They lathi charged sleeping people. What injustice had they (people) done? It is a blot on humanity. It was like throttling democracy.”
Responding to Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s remarks that civil society campaigns were threatening democracy, an unfazed Hazare responded:
“Leaders and ministers should learn about democracy, and if they feel we are blackmailing them, we will continue to do so.”
With thousands shouting “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and singing a tuneful “Lokpal, Lokpal” as well as devotional songs, Hazare sat on a raised platform from 10 a.m. The fast ended at around 6.30 p.m.
The Indian tricolour was in abundance. So were placards and posters denouncing corruption. Rajghat overflowed with the elderly and the young. There were thousands but only one hero: Anna Hazare.
From Swami Agnivesh to Kejriwal, speakers called for a crusade against corruption and flayed the crackdown on Ramdev.
Kejriwal said: “We are not here to change the government, we want to change the system.”
The Congress hit out.
“A second freedom movement against whom? A constitutionally elected government?” asked Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan, adding that the subversion of the political system cannot be allowed.
She said the Congress-led government was committed to rooting out corruption and enact a strong Lokpal bill.
In April, Hazare’s five-day fast drew widespread support in the country and forced the government to set up the panel to draft a Lokpal bill.
Wednesday too, thousands came to support Hazare.
Vaibhav Kumar, one of the many young Anna supporters, said: “Just like Gandhiji took the path of non-violence, Anna Hazare is doing the same and we are supporting that.”
Hunger strikes were also observed across the country, including Mumbai, Lucknow, Bhopal, Kolkata and Bhubaneswar.