Anna threatens PM to resume fast again

If Jan Lokpal Bill not passed in the winter session

PTI | November 1, 2011



Anna Hazare on Tuesday threatened to resume his fast on the last day of Parliament's winter session if the government fails to get a strong Jan Lokpal Bill passed by then.

In a letter to prime minister Manmohan Singh, the 74-year-old activist said he did not find it right that responsible people in government and Congress were making remarks that creates doubts about the passage of the bill.

Hazare, who called off his 12-day hunger strike in Ramlila Maidan in August after eliciting a promise that his concerns will be addressed, said his team will also travel to various states to educate people about the need for a strong Jan Lokpal Bill when he resumes his fast.

The winter session of Parliament will begin on November 22 and ends on December 23. The government has been repeatedly asserting that it plans to introduce the significant Lokpal Bill during that session while Team Anna has been insisting the government pass the bill in this session itself.

"I will begin my hunger strike agitation on the last day of the session, if the Jan Lokpal Bill is not passed in the House and the team will tour various states to educate people about the issue," Hazare said in the letter.

Hazare, who is observing vow of silence in Ralegan Siddhi since October 16, reminded Singh that he called off his hunger strike, which he began on August 16 at Ramlila Maidan, following a written assurance from the prime minister, which was conveyed to him by union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

"If an effective Jan Lokpal Bill is in place, it would help the country to get rid of corruption and also help utilise more funds towards development work," he said in the letter.

Hazare said it has become difficult for the common man to carry on with their life due to corruption.

"Due to corruption and price rise, it has become difficult for people to run their families. Out of Re one spent for development activities, only 10 paise is actually spent on development," he said.

Hazare said if a strong Jan Lokpal is there, then it can put a break on 60 per cent of corruption which can provide relief for people.

The activist had yesterday indicated that he might discontinue the 'maun vrat' over the next couple of days as he wants to hold "open discussions" with his supporters.

Comments

 

Other News

India’s freedom struggle was shaped by wider Asian political thought

As we mark 80th anniversary of independence, ‘Asianism and the Fall of Empire’ (HarperCollins India) by historian Mithi Mukherjee offers a new perspective on Ind

What is colonialism? A relook at modern history

The Chromatic World Order: The Fiction That Rules Our World  By Sajid Mohamed Aakar Books  

Monsoon session of parliament adjourns sine die

The Monsoon Session, 2026 of Parliament which commenced on July 20 was adjourned sine die on Thursday. The session provided 19 sittings spread over a period of 25 days.   During the session 11 Bills were introduced in Lok Sabha and 2 Bills were introduced in Rajya Sabha. 12 B

Consumer Justice at a Crossroads

Over the past four decades, India`s consumer protection landscape has undergone a remarkable transformation. What began with the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 as a simple mechanism to empower ordinary citizens has evolved into a comprehensive framework capable of addressing challenges ranging from mislea

Doctors, experts call for ban on junk food ads, mandate warning labels

More than 30 doctors, medical scientists and public health professionals have urged the government to take decisive action against the aggressive advertising and marketing of junk food, calling for a watershed ban on advertisements for foods high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) and ultra-processed foods (UPF

Asiatic Lion population rises from 523 in 2015 to 891 in 2025

On World Lion Day 2026, environment, forest and climate change Minister  Bhupender Yadav celebrated India’s remarkable journey in lion conservation and reaffirmed the country’s unwavering commitment to protecting wildlife and biodiversity.   In a post on soc

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter