Anna Hazare begins hunger strike for Lokal Lokpal and Lokayuktas
New Delhi : Anna Hazare started an indefinite hunger strike since today morning in Delhi. The hunger strike is on the ground that government should set up a Lokpal. He began his strike at Ramlila Maidan with a new target, this time. Earlier, he under fired the then UPA government at the centre and this time it is the Narendra Modi-led BJP government, which has not been able to finalise a Lokal Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in the states following the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report to highlight agrarian problems.
Anna Hazare, whose original name is Kisan Baburao Hazare is known across the world for his anti-corruption movement which had caught the imagination people, seven years ago, when he was on hunger-strike on the same ground of demanding a Lokpal. In 2011, Anna Hazare sat on a similar hunger strike for Lokpal or a national ombudsman. This time his protest is focused on setting up a Lokal Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in the states, besides implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report to address the agrarian problems.
Sources confirmed that on August 31, Anna Hazare had written to PM Modi stating that he would launch an agitation over the appointment of Lokpal and Lokayukta as well as implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report. Anna Hazare wrote, "Since there has been no response from your side, I have decided to launch an agitation in Delhi. I will continue with the protest until the demands are met". He also mentioned that in his next letter he would inform him about the place and the date of his agitation.
The Jan Lokpal Bill is a drafted anti-corruption bill drawn up by important civil society activists looking for the appointment of a Jan Lokpal, an independent body that would investigate corruption cases, complete the investigation within a year and visualizes trial in the case getting over in the next one year.
The Lokayuktas is an anti-corruption ombudsman organisation in the states, which once appointed, Lokayukta cannot be dismissed nor transferred by the government, and can only be removed by passing an impeachment motion by the state assembly.
Swaminathan Commission report is a report by the National Commission on Farmers, headed by Professor MS Swaminathan. As per information, the commission has submitted five reports through the period December 2004 - October 2006. Following from the first four, the final report focused on causes of farmer distresses and the rise in farmer suicides, and suggests dealing with them through a holistic national policy for farmers. The findings and recommendations cover issues of access to resources and social security entitlements.
