India

Anna Hazare goes on indefinite hunger strike, with farmers, sans the middle class supporters

Anna Hazare, who had launched his anti-corruption movement from Delhi nearly seven years ago, has returned to the Ramlila Maidan once again.

However, there are farmers in support this time, but the upper middle class that rallied behind Anna and current Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was then part of the anti-corruption movement against Sheila Dixit, the then Delhi Chief Minister, seems to be missing from the scene as of now.

The activist first visited the Mahatama Gandhi Samadhi at Rajghat before he reached Ramlila Maidan around 12 p.m. along with thousands of his supporters from across India.

Sitting cross-legged , Anna said “Is baar, ya to aar ya paar (It’s either now or never)”.

His supporters started their protest as Kisan Baburao Hazare, aka Anna, started his hunger strike with a demand for the government to set up a Lokpal. Among the farmers was Manohar Padhy, a farmer from Maharashtra, dressed up like Mahatma Gandhi.

“Modi government has enormously hiked MPs’ salaries. This is against the spirit of public service and clean politics. This should be taken back,” he said.

Anna said that it’s disappointing that the Lokpal hasn’t been implemented ever since it was passed in 2014. He claimed that he has written to the government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi several times regarding the matter but received no response which is why he decided to go on a hunger strike again.

Anna, who did not want to politicize his movement the last time, faced a situation where many of his “followers” went ahead and formed the Aam Aadmi Party. This time the social activist and his team say they have taken concrete steps to ensure that no such thing happens again.

 

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