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Second Freedom Movement : Anna hazare
Taking on the government, New Gandhi & civil rights activist Anna Hazare sat on a day-long fast at Rajghat and declared that his agitation is against corruption was the "second freedom struggle" and he threatened another hunger strike from August 16, 2011, if lokpal bill is not passed by then.
He accused the government of putting "hurdles" in the drafting of lokpal bill and trying to defame the civil society members of the joint panel, such as Shanti Bhushan, Prashant Bhushan, Santosh Hegde and Arvind Kejriwal through a "discreet" campaign.
Hazare, joined by his associates and a few thousand supporters, went on the hunger strike to protest the police crackdown on Baba Ramdev's supporters during their agitation against corruption here on Saturday night, which he termed as a "blot on humanity" and attempt to "stifle democracy".
After paying floral tributes at Mahatma Gandhi's samadhi, he reached the protest site at around 10.20 am to a rousing welcome from supporters who assembled there amid heavy police presence.
"Mahatma Gandhi fought for our freedom but we are yet to achieve real independence. The second struggle of independence has started. We are ready to sacrifice our lives but will not buckle under pressure," Hazare said.
Mounting pressure on the government to quickly enact a law to curb corruption, he said he will launch an indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi from August 16 if the lokpal bill is not passed by then.
Hazare's indefinite fast in April had evoked nationwide support forcing the government to set up a joint committee of civil society members and ministers to draft the bill.
Hazare said the government was levelling allegations against civil society members to defame them.
"First they targeted Shanti and Prashant Bhushan through a CD and later took on Hegde. Now we hear that some officers have been put behind Arvind to find out about his assets. What is the need for doing so when he does not have anything? This is not good. If you want to ask something, ask directly. You are doing these discreet things," he said.
"I want to tell the government that we are not two but one. You should wipe it out of your mind that you are the masters. You are not the masters, the people are. Gram Sabha is more powerful than Lok Sabha or State Assemblies," he said.
Comparing the police action at Ramlila Maidan to Jallianwala Bagh "without the firing part", he said what is the difference between your democracy and British Raj?
Hazare said he will not seek security for himself and he is not afraid of death. "Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev never asked for security. If they would have done, our country would not be free," he said.
With Delhi Police refusing permission for the day-long hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, Hazare had decided to shift the venue to Rajghat to avoid a confrontation.
People who came to Rajghat were outraged over the crackdown on Ramdev's followers. "That action was shameful. One should protest. I have left my house and business to join this agitation. If you don't have other means to raise your voice, the only option left is to hit the streets," said B S Negi, a retired Assam Rifles personnel who came to Delhi on June 3 for the Ramdev protest.
A Gandhi lookalike, tricolour-waving youths and volunteers wearing Gandhi caps added colour to the protest site where anti-corruption T-shirts worth Rs 150 recorded brisk sales.
NEW DELHI: Rights activist Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on HRD minister Kapil Sibal, asking him what was wrong in civil society members calling ministers "liars, cheats and conspirators."
He also demanded that all political leaders should declare their assets and liabilities like the civil society members of the joint Lokpal drafting committee did and parties should declare sources of their funding and expenses for organising rallies across the country in the past five years.
Addressing protesters at the day-long fast site of Anna Hazare in Rajghat, he said Sibal has raised questions about civil society calling ministers liars and cheats.
"If we have said so, what is wrong in it? There is so much corruption, is it not cheating? If we are cheated, shouldn't we call them liars? Why shouldn't we call them conspirators?
"This government is indulging in conspiracy as we have seen in the Shanti Bhushan CD episode," he said, a day after he rebutted Sibal's statement claiming that they had never used such words.
The mention of Sibal created unrest among protesters who raised slogans against the minister. Hazare had to intervene to bring peace, saying they were protesting outside Rajghat and has to go by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.
On the question of division among civil society, Kejriwal shot back at politicians saying there were differences in Parliament and they unite only when they want a hike in their salaries.
"When did MPs in Lok Sabha were united on an issue? They are divided always. They get united only once when they want a hike in their salaries. If the civil society is divided, then Parliament is also divided," he said.
Kejriwal also demanded that political parties should make public their funding and the expense it incurred in bringing people to their rallies.
"When we raised our voices for a stronger Lokpal Bill, there were many allegations and we were asked to declare assets and we did that. Now, we are asking the political parties to declare from where they are getting donations?
"Where did you get this money from? Make public how much money they spend in the past five years for bringing people to their rallies. All parties -- Congress, BJP, SP, BSP -- all should do it. Tell us how much money was paid to people to attend your rallies," he said.
On the Lokpal Bill, he said the government wants the Prime Minister out of Lokpal purview. "They want the PM out of it and be allowed to indulge in corruption. They don't want judges or MPs under it. Should we compromise? They said they are committed to bringing this law but if you are keeping everyone out of it, then it will be a blank paper," he said.
He said the next phases of their struggle will be for electoral reforms, judicial reforms and decentralisation.
On the allegation that Hazare and Ramdev were masks of Sangh Parivar and the Lokpal movement has taken a communal turn, Kejriwal said he will be the first one to quit the panel if it turns communal.
Commenting on the police crackdown at Ramlila Maidan, he said the government unleashed atrocities on people in a merciless way, lathicharging and teargassing sleeping women and children.
"The government is giving a message that they will continue indulging in corruption and those who will protest will be crushed. They have torn and thrown out the Constitution," he said.
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