People’s Power Prevails, Anna Hazare ends fast

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, April 9: After forcing the government to bow down before people’s power and accept his demands for a stronger Lokpal Bill, iconic Gandhian leader and social activist Anna Hazare on Saturday morning ended his five-day-long fast unto death.

Anna Hazare broke his fast by drinking nimbu pani (lime juice) given to him by a child. Prior to ending his fast, Hazare helped his supporters break fast by drinking nimbu pani.

 

Addressing his supporters at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, Hazare said “this is just a start and there’s still a long way to go”.

He said if the government fails to get the Bill passed in Parliament’s Monsoon Session, “the activists would converge at Red Fort on August 15 and hoist the national flag”, clearly indicating his movement would continue till the Bill becomes a law.

He further announced a national committee of activists would be formed to carry on the fight, the constitution of which would be announced later.

The successful end to the five-day-long protests at Jantar Mantar and in various cities across the country came after the government this morning issued a gazette notification to set up a joint committee consisting of 10 members from the government as well as the civil society to draft the Lokpal Bill.

Swami Agnivesh, who collecting the notification from Union minister Kapil Sibal’s residence, said that it is a victory of the people. He added the notification mentions the proceedings of the committee would start forthwith.

Agnivesh then travelled to Jantar Mantar to hand over the notification to Anna Hazare, whose fast caught the imagination of India and united the citizens like never before.

The government had last night accepted all the demands of the civil society activists, led by Anna Hazare, for a stringent Lokpal Bill.

Addressing supporters on Friday night, Anna Hazare said that the government had agreed to their demands and that he would break his fast at 10.30 am on Saturday.

As soon as the soldier-turned-activist from rural Maharashtra told journalists and cheering supporters that the "people of India have won", the supporters gathered at the protest venue tens of thousands started singing and shouting slogans, creating a carnival like atmosphere.

"From the way the government has accepted (our demands), the people of India have won," the visibly pleased 72-year-old said, the roar of men and women almost drowning the electrifying announcement.

"The government is ready, so I am ready," he said.

The panel would have five members each from the government and the civil society.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will be the Chairman of the committee that will also include Law Minister Veerappa Moily, Telecom Minister Sibal, Home Minister P Chidambaram and Water Resources Minister Salman Khurshid as members.

Besides Hazare, those representing the civil society in the joint committee will be eminent lawyers Shanti Bhushan, Prasant Bhushan, retired Supreme Court Judge Santosh Hegde and RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal. Shanti Bhushan will be the co-Chairman.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the government intends to introduce the "historic legislation" in the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

Friday night`s development followed four action-packed days when Hazare`s fast ignited an unprecedented mass movement all over the country that drew people from all walks of life -- from the young to the elderly, from rural folks to urban dwellers, from traders to businessmen, and from students to Bollywood.

Hazare was determined to have a stringent Lokpal Bill that could probe corruption in high places including the prime minister, ministers and MPs.

The Bill had been pending since it was first introduced in the Lok Sabha in 1969 but could never get past the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House, despite being introduced on nine occasions, the last time in 2008.

With Assembly Elections underway in five states, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) initially took a tough stand against Hazare but relented as it saw the protest spread rapidly to all parts of India, with scores going on solidarity fast in town after town.