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Euphoria grips Jantar Mantar : After five days of successful struggle against corruption, it was mood of festivity, which enveloped the dharnasthala — Jantar Mantar — on Saturday morning, when noted social activist Kisan Baburao Hazare aka Anna Hazare ended his 98-hour-long fast. Saumya Kohli, a six-year-old schoolgirl of Sister Nivedita Vidya Mandir, who was randomly chosen from the crowd by former top cop Kiran Bedi, offered lemonade to Hazare, who was on fast unto death since April 5, demanding representation of civil society in joint committee to draft the Lokpal Bill.
While addressing the large gathering of his volunteers, supporters and the common man, the right to information crusader, said, “With the Government bowing to the pressure created by the janata and accepting all demands, our responsibility has increased more. I will travel across the country and struggle for introduction of reforms in existing electoral system.”
Before breaking fast, Hazare offered water to nearly 500 volunteers, including women, who were fasting along with him for the last five days. Though Hazare called off his fast on Saturday after the issuance of gazette notification declaring that the joint committee shall complete its drafting by June 30, he warned that if the Government does not table the Bill in the Parliament in the Monsoon Session, he will demonstrate in the Capital on August 15.
“This is just the beginning of the fight against corruption. Our responsibility has now increased.
If the Bill is not tabled and passed in Monsoon session, I will come again and hoist Tricolour at Red Fort on August 15,” he said setting August 15 as the deadline for the passage of the Lok Pal Bill.
The 73-year-old social activist who spearheaded the movement against the political and administrative graft has brought entire nation together. During last five days, he received tremendous and overwhelming support throughout the country, especially from youth, and emerged as a national hero. The mass mobilisation of youth and their participation has also fascinated the octogenarian activist. Some compared him with Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi, but Hazare said, “I am not worthy of even sitting at Gandhiji’s feet. But he has influenced my thought process.”
He said another important outcome of the five-day-long anshan is that it has brought people of all caste, religion and belief together for the country. “They joint hands for the country. They have sent a message to the world that despite having different religions, castes and sects, we —-Indians are united and one,” he said. He also expressed gratitude to all for joining the movement to weed out corruption. Explaining his future course of action, Hazare said after curbing corruption, he will initiate his struggle for decentralisation of power and bringing reform in the present election system.
“I have written to the Government to remove electronic voting machines. This election system needs a overhauling. EVMs do not function properly. The Centre has agreed,” said Hazare. Earlier, around 9.30 in the morning, Kiren Bedi, Swami Agnivesh, Prashant Bhushan and Arvind Kejriwal appeared on the stage at Jantar Mantar and showed the copy of the gazette notification to the crowd, who were waiting for the celebration of democracy. On the occasion, Bedi said the fight against corruption was battle for our self-respect. “We should keep it in our mind; we struggled and fought for our self-respect. We should also resolve on this occasion, we will keep fighting in future also,” said she.
Meanwhile, in a dramatic turn of events, there was a sense of dissatisfaction and sadness among several demonstrators and even the common man at Jantar Mantar on Saturday when names of members of joint committee from civil society were announced keeping away the former super cop Kiran Bedi. People were particularly disappointed over not inclusion of the first woman IPS officer in the panel, as she has emerged as a crusader against corruption just like she carried herself during her service tenure. Some termed it as a great mistake and some opined that it was result of Bedi’s candid approach in raising her voice against any misdeed.
Several were also critical for inclusion of both father-son duo —- former Law Minister Shanti Bhushan and senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan —- in the joint committee for drafting the Lokpal Bill. “How come, when this anadolan also raised voice against nepotism, include Bhushan and company in a limited five member team. And if somebody like Justice Hegde, who even did not join the movement, can be taken then why not Madam Bedi who is more known for fighting corruption,” said Ripudaman Borkakitya, who too has been a participating in the movement.
Ritika Arora, an elderly housewife who reached the spot at nine in the morning said she signified the power of Indian woman, she is strong and dropping her from the panel is not good idea. “I consider it a big mistake. She has been fighting against the corruption which has deep roots in our society. I have come especially for her only,” she said, adding that it is not a matter of individual choice but there should be a balance in the committee. “There is no female member, it feels strange. This fact should have been kept in mind when the names were being considered,” she said.
A young volunteer, camping at Jantar Mantar since Tuesday also expressed his resentment over her exclusion. “With Justice Hegde, Shanti and Prashant Bhushan, all five Ministers in the joint committee are law degree holders. Her valuable experience as IPS would have made a difference,” said a volunteer on the condition of anonymity. A few were also holding banners and posters showing their support and favouring Bedi’s inclusion in the committee. Tejinder Pal Bagga, a young businessman from Punjab, was also carrying a similar poster saying —-“We want Kiran Bedi in the ten-member panel”.
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