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Anna
Hazare reaches Rajghat, hundreds join in support
Tuesday April 05, 2011 01:25:54 PM,
IANS
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New Delhi: Veteran
social activist Anna Hazare, who has vowed to fast unto death,
Tuesday reached Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Rajghat to press for a
stronger anti-graft Lokpal Bill through greater involvement of civil
society in its formulation.
The Magsaysay Award winner activist, along with supporters, reached
Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Rajghat at 10 a.m., after which he is
expected to stage a march from India Gate to the Jantar Mantar, a
stone's throw from Parliament House, where Hazare will begin his
fast.
Those accompanying Hazare include Right To Information (RTI)
activist Arind Kejriwal and former top cop Kiran Bedi.
"I will fast unto death as announced earlier, as the prime minister
has refused to form a joint committee with civil society members in
it for the formulation of the Lokpal Bill. Even if I lose my life, I
will have no regret, my life is dedicated to the nation," Hazare had
said at a press meet earlier.
Hazare and several other civil society activists are pressing for
adoption of an alternate bill, called Jan Lokpal Bill.
The Jan Lokpal Bill calls for setting up ombudsmen - Lokpal and
Lokayuktas (in states) - independent of the government's control in
order to check corruption in public life.
Activists say investigations by ombudsmen should be completed in one
year and there should be a minimum jail term of five years and
maximum punishment of life imprisonment.
The government's version, however, recommends a prison term of a
minimum six months and a maximum punishment of seven years for
corruption.
Hundredrs of supporters have already gathered at Rajghat, India Gate
and Jantar Mantar where Hazare will be staging his protest march.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had Monday expressed "deep
disappointment" over Hazare's decision to go ahead with the planned
hunger strike, but said he had enormous respect for the social
worker and his mission.
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