Does it take a Gandhian to bring the government to its knees? Well, looking at the response that Anna Hazare has got from the nation for his fight against corruption, it seems so. Hazare, the anti-graft crusader, has been fasting for three days now demanding that the government put its money where its mouth is.
Consider this: A man decides to go on a fast to get the government to acknowledge that it needs to fight now against now. About 24 hours later, people wake up to his clarion call. Now, 48 hours later, cities across the country are taking the non-violent way of protesting, unlike that of our political parties, to tell the government that they have decided enough is enough! No violence, no bloodshed, no broken cars or burnt buses, shattered shops. Nothing, except the strong resolve of the people is shining through. And what a statement the silence is making!
A brief overview
On April 5, Anna Hazare decided to take on the government and demand that it act against corruption. He also wanted the Jan Lokpal Bill to be amended to give it enough teeth to be effective. He lashed out against Sharad Pawar for being part of the Group of Ministers on corruption. Initially, a shocked Pawar said in jibe, "Please remove me from all the GoMs." However, the constant criticism from Hazare made Pawar resign from the GoM on corruption.
Later, the Gandhian shot off a letter to the Prime Minister slamming the government for not taking his protest too seriously.
Responding to Congress' criticism that his protest was "premature", the 72-year-old said authorities resort to "malicious slandering" whenever cornered and asserted that he was not a kind of person who could be "instigated" into going on an indefinite fast. He alleged that "their spokespersons are misleading the nation".
Referring to criticism of his protest, Hazare said in the letter, "Dear Manmohan Singhji, this is an insult to my sense of wisdom and intelligence... I take advice from many friends and critics but do what my conscience directs me to do.
Consider this: A man decides to go on a fast to get the government to acknowledge that it needs to fight now against now. About 24 hours later, people wake up to his clarion call. Now, 48 hours later, cities across the country are taking the non-violent way of protesting, unlike that of our political parties, to tell the government that they have decided enough is enough! No violence, no bloodshed, no broken cars or burnt buses, shattered shops. Nothing, except the strong resolve of the people is shining through. And what a statement the silence is making!
A brief overview
On April 5, Anna Hazare decided to take on the government and demand that it act against corruption. He also wanted the Jan Lokpal Bill to be amended to give it enough teeth to be effective. He lashed out against Sharad Pawar for being part of the Group of Ministers on corruption. Initially, a shocked Pawar said in jibe, "Please remove me from all the GoMs." However, the constant criticism from Hazare made Pawar resign from the GoM on corruption.
Later, the Gandhian shot off a letter to the Prime Minister slamming the government for not taking his protest too seriously.
Responding to Congress' criticism that his protest was "premature", the 72-year-old said authorities resort to "malicious slandering" whenever cornered and asserted that he was not a kind of person who could be "instigated" into going on an indefinite fast. He alleged that "their spokespersons are misleading the nation".
Referring to criticism of his protest, Hazare said in the letter, "Dear Manmohan Singhji, this is an insult to my sense of wisdom and intelligence... I take advice from many friends and critics but do what my conscience directs me to do.
