Anti-graft crusader Hazare to begin hunger strike on Wednesday

New Delhi: Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare has announced his decision to go on an indefinite hunger strike starting on Wednesday.

Originally just three of his close associates, Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Gopal Rai were scheduled to undertake the hunger strike to protest against the federal government’s refusal to order a probe into corruption charges against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and 14 of his ministers.

Hazare, who reached the capital on Tuesday, however, announced that he would also join them at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar — the venue of one of Hazare’s most effective hunger strikes last year.

“I will fast this time. We had earlier decided that I would not sit in on a fast. But seeing the enthusiasm of people, I felt I should also sit in on the fast,” Hazare who was received by a huge crowd upon his arrival here said.

Doctors had advised him against undertaking hunger strikes due to his fragile health. He had to be admitted for treatment at the Medanta Medicity Hospital, Gurgaon in Delhi’s suburb after a similar hunger strike in January this year.

Incidentally, Hazare’s indefinite hunger strike will coincide with the installation of Pranab Mukherjee as the 13th President of India on Wednesday.

India Against Corruption, the Hazare-led organisation, had accused Prime Minister Singh and 14 of his cabinet ministers of being involved in corrupt practices, including Mukherjee who served as the federal finance minister until last month.

Kejriwal had announced he was to release documents to prove Mukherjee’s involvement in corruption. No action can be taken against Mukherjee since the constitution gives the President immunity against all cases.

Step up pressure

Hazare wants a probe into the corruption charges against the prime minister and his cabinet ministers by a Special Investigation Team, which was rejected by Prime Minister Singh in June this year.

All his previous agitations were to force the government to bring in an effective anti-graft Lokpal Bill. While the Lokpal Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha, it could not be put to the vote in the Rajya Sabha due to scarcity of time in the winter session. The Bill has since been referred to a select committee of the Parliament.

The decision to defy the doctors by the 74-year-old activist is part of a strategy to step up pressure on the government and drum up support for their protest.

The local Delhi Police has granted Team Anna permission to fast at Jantar Mantar until August 8, the day the monsoon session of Parliament is slated to begin.