Mumbai: Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare, ill for the last few days, not only ended his fast yesterday but also dropped plans for a jail bharo (fill up jails) agitation in Delhi.
With the Lokpal (ombudsman) Bill being passed by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday and the uncertainties surrounding it being okayed by Rajya Sabha today, Hazare even called off the sit-in in front of the house of Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi.
However, in his address at the MMRDA grounds in Bandra, he said his next step was to tour the five poll-bound states and expose the way the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, particularly the Congress party, "betrayed the people of the nation".
Looking weak and tired after a week-long bout of fever and two days of fasting, the 74-year-old agreed to end his fast with doctors and supporters persistently telling him to do so.
Doctors who examined him early yesterday said they were concerned as his medical condition could lead to kidney failure.
Whether Hazare was disappointed with the thin crowds turning up at the Mumbai venue is not clear but he did say that it would be a long fight for people.
Hard work to pay
"Dictators are ruling this nation. The habits formed in 65 years cannot be changed in two years. Nevertheless, the hard work we did in the last nine to ten months is significant. We'll be victorious one day."
Their fight was for the common man, he said, and "we want justice for him". Urging the youth once again to come forward and join his movement, he said an atmosphere has been created in the country. That is why he not only wanted to bring about awareness among the electorate but also planned to "roam the country" to campaign against the present government during the general elections.
When asked by reporters why he was targeting only the Congress and whether other parties would be included, "The country should be saved before they destroy it," he said without naming the Congress.
Speaking to reporters, Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal added that the Lokpal Bill passed by the Lok Sabha "is a very dangerous bill. We shall campaign in the five states going to the polls to put pressure on the ruling coalition. Subsequently, we expect appropriate amendments are made in the bill," if the Rajya Sabha too passes it.
He also clarified that the agitation was called off since "there was no point in fasting when Anna's health was bad. Moreover, we want to review our future strategy. There is no stepping back. The movement will become more intense in the coming days," he said.
Enters CIA's Factbook
Hazare and his organisation — India Against Corruption — has made it into the American spy agency CIA's World Factbook as a political pressure group in India, joining the league of RSS, Bajrang Dal, VHP and the Hurriyat Conference, reports PTI.
"All Parties Hurriyat Conference in the Kashmir Valley [separatist group]; Bajrang Dal [religious organisation]; India Against Corruption [Anna Hazare]; Jamiat Ulema-e Hind [religious organisation]; Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh [Mohan Bhagwat] [religious organisation]; Vishwa Hindu Parishad [Ashok Singhal] [religious organisation]," says the CIA under the named category on the India page.
