By Aishwarya Chaurasia
India beheld history repeating itself as social activist Anna Hazare launched a fresh anti-corruption protest with an indefinite hunger strike at the Ramlila Maidan on Friday. The demand is the same as it was almost seven years back, the appointment of a Lokpal at the Centre, except this time it is directed against the ruling government, BJP. Back in 2011, Ramlila Maidan saw Anna Hazare fast for 12 days, a movement that made the parliament agree to Annas three key demands: Appointment of an anti-corruption ombudsmen in regional states, making anti-corruption law cover entire bureaucracy and not just senior officials and setting up of citizens’ charter to redress public grievances against the government. Choosing the date Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were hanged to death (23rd March) as the date of commencement of the movement, Anna Hazare began his hunger strike after paying his tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.
Annas mind, this time, is set on establishing the Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in the states to probe corruption cases. Apart from this, Anna has been pressing for implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report which suggests ways to take care of the agrarian distress. Anna claimed to have written 43 letters to the Government in the last 4 years without receiving any sort of response.
What is Lokpal Bill?
Although as many as eight attempts were made to set up an anti-corruption bill between 1968-2011, it was finally on 27 December 2011 that the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill proposed by a Group of Ministers chaired by Pranab Mukherjee was passed by Lok Sabha. After the standing committee made substantial changes, the modified Bill, Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2013, was passed by the Parliament. The bill came into force on 16th January 2014 after the then president Mr Pranabh Mukherjee gave his assent.
The bill aims to set an anti-corruption ombudsman, Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayukta at the State. The Lokpal, which is to cover all public servants including the Prime Minister, will constitute a chairperson and a maximum of eight members team. With the power to direct and superintend any investigation agency including CBI and call and question any public servant even before an investigation agency has started its enquiry, the Lokpal will be selected by the Prime Minister, the Lok Sabha Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition, the Chief Justice of India and an eminent jurist nominated by the President.
Even after the Act is passed, a Lokpal is yet to be appointed by the government of India.
What is Swaminathan Commission?
Professor M.S. Swaminathan, chairman of National Commission on Farmers submitted five reports to the government. The reports recommended faster and more inclusive growth for farmers in line with the Planning Commissions Approach to 11th Five Year Plan. The Swaminathan report aimed at working for food and nutrition security, a more sustainable farming system, improving and providing quality farm products at the cheapest cost, providing credit and insurance facility, preventing farmers suicide and bringing about land and irrigation reforms.
Annas noble cause
Annas Hunger strike comes at a time when the government that promised to reduce corruption is making new promises again and the country is in dire need to reduce corruption, check bureaucracy and support its farmers. Anna Hazares last anti-corruption movement was encouraged and praised massively. If history is any indication, this time the support will be manifold. Modi government will have to act and act fast, for Anna Hazare and his hunger strike is here to stay.