Minutes after lok Sabha passed the amended lokpal and lokayukta Bill on Wednesday afternoon, social activist Anna Hazare broke his nine-day-old fast and made a strong pitch for the enactment of anti-corruption law before declaration of the schedule and enforcement of model code of conduct for the 2014 lok Sabha polls.
Seventy-six-year-old Hazare, flanked by retired Army chief VK Singh and former IPS officer-turned-activist Kiran Bedi, waved the Tricolour in jubilation, even as his supporters celebrated the passage of the lokpal Bill in lok Sabha, by raising vociferous slogans like “Anna Hazare Tum Sangarsh Karo, Hum tumare saath hain” and “Inquilab Zindabad”.
Though the passage of lokpal had become a mere formality after the Samjajwadi Party staged a walkout from lok Sabha, Hazare and his supporters at Ralegan-Siddhi waited anxiously for the “historic event” to pass off without any hitch.
Fatigue and marked weight loss caused by the nine-day-old fast notwithstanding, Hazare was enthusiasm personified. He welcomed the passage of lokpal Bill by raising slogans like “Bharat mata ki jai.” and “Vande Mataram”, as his supporters cheered him lustily for taking his Janlokpal movement to a logical conclusion.
Hazare’s supporters also danced to the popular Hindi film number “Dil diya hai, jaan bhi denge, aye watan tere liye”.
Hazare thanked the Select Committee of Rajya Sabha profusely for playing an instrumental role in strengthening the “weak” lokpal Bill passed by lok Sabha earlier and MPs of all political parties, expecting the Samajwadi Party, for ensuring the passage of anti-corruption legislation.
“I would like to thank the members of Select Committee (of Rajya Sabha) for making necessary changes and strengthening the “weak” lokpal passed earlier by lok Sabha. The amendments carried out by the Select Committee meet the expectations of the people in the country. On behalf of people of this country and Ralegan-Siddhi pariwar, I would like to express my salutations, with my folded hands, to all members of Rajya Sabha and lok Sabha, excepting those belonging to the Samajwadi Party, for taking such a laudable step (of passing a strong anti-corruption legislation,” Hazare said.
Hazare, who broke his fast by drinking lemon juice given to him by two schoolchildren from Ralegan-Siddhi, said: “For the first time after 66 years of Independence, a strong legislation is being enacted to put a break on corruption in the country. like I have said before, lokpal would not contribute to eradicating 100 per cent corruption in the country, but the legislation will definitely help check 40 to 50 per cent of corruption and poor people will get justice.”
Hazare complimented the ruling Congress and Opposition BJP for taking a lead in creating awareness among the various political parties on the need for expediting the passage of lokpal Bill in both the Houses of Parliament.
Making a strong case for the early enactment of the lokpal Bill as passed by both Rajya Sabha and lok Sabha, Hazare said: “Now that both the Houses of Parliament have passed the Bill, it should be enacted into a law before the enforcement of model code of conduct for the 2014 lok Sabha polls. It is possible for the Government to enact the passed Bill into a law in the next couple months. Once the law is enacted, people in the country will be able to comprehend as to the finer contents of the legislation”.
“However strong may be the law, it will be meaningless if it is not enforced properly. I would scout for retired judges, retired DGPs, citizens with impeccable integrity, those interested in serving people and involve them in the task of ensuring the effective implementation of the lokpal and lokayukta Act. I intend to set up watchdog committees at all levels...in States, district and block levels to contribute to the effective implementation of the law against corruption,” he said.
“We intend to set an organisation of citizens with impeccable integrity at the national level and train them to fight corruption… For that we need money. My appeal to 120 crore people in the country is that even if they contribute Rs 5 each, the funds thus collected would be more than adequate the fund our activity which is in national interest,” he said.
Hazare said that his organisation had not asked for or received any major donations from corporate houses or from aboard, ever since he began his latest round of fast to press for the passage of lokpal Bill.
“Till Tuesday after, we collected as little as `1.5 lakh in the form of petty donations like `10, 20, 50 and `100 that we received from people coming here from other parts of the State and country to participate in the agitation. The people of Ralegan-siddhi have been providing food free of cost to people coming here ever since my fast began on December 10. I have asked my people to prepare accounts for the money received and put the same up on the interest,” he said.
Hazare thanked the people of Ralegan-Siddhi, neighbouring villages for looking after food and other arrangements at the fast venue, doctors from nearby hospitals, including that of Ahmednagar district civil hospital and Pune’s Sassoon General Hospital, a visiting naturopathy practitioner from New Delhi for looking after his health and the district police personnel posted at the village since the start of his fast.
Meanwhile, Kiran Bedi thanks all those involved in the Janlokpal movement from the beginning.
Expressing confidence that lokpal will prove to be an effective institution in fighting corruption in the country, Hazare’s confidant Kiran Bedi said: “The lokpal will be the Supreme Court in matters of corruption. CBI will no longer be a caged parrot but a free bird. lokpal is the fruit of Anna’s penance and sacrifice. Parliament has given the credit for lokpal without him soliciting it”.