Anna Hazare building new team to re-launch agitation for Lokpal

Shiv Kumar

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, October 9

Social activist and anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare is building a new team as part of an effort to re-launch his agitation for the appointment of an effective Lokpal.

According to sources close to Hazare, several non-government organisations and right-to-information activists from different parts of the country are in touch with the veteran Gandhian to chalk out a programme of protests, which is scheduled to be held in New Delhi early next year.

Hazare told reporters at his village in Ralegan Siddhi that he would launch the agitation in the last week of January 2018.

Apart from demanding an effective Lokpal, Hazare is demanding reforms in the electoral process and a pension scheme for farmers. Hazare's associates say he will begin a nationwide tour in the coming weeks to mobilise support for the proposed agitation.

Hazare, whose protests against the Manmohan Singh government in 2012, is seen to have helped fan the Narendra Modi wave, has turned a bitter critic of the Prime Minister.

He told reporters on Sunday that the Prime Minister did not keep his word of appointing a Lokpal during his three years in power. Instead, Hazare alleged, the Modi government actually weakened the anti-corruption law by amending provisions under which those covered by the Lokpal had to disclose the assets held by them as well as their family members.

Hazare also added that the letters he sent to Modi went unanswered.

The activist is also pushing for strengthening the provision for NOTA (none of the above) in elections. “Should NOTA get the highest number of votes in any seat, fresh elections should be held all over again all the candidates should be barred from contesting,” Hazare said.