NEW DELHI, July 23: Team Anna would sit on an indefinite fast from July 25 at Jantar Mantar here to press its demands for a strong Jan Lokpal Bill and probe against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his 14 Cabinet colleagues against whom the team has levelled corruption charges.
However, this time, for the first time since the Lokpal movement was started by Team Anna last year, 75-year-old Hazare is not likely to join the fast due to health problems.
“Anna Hazare is expected to come to Delhi to support the movement, but will not sit on the fast due to his health condition,” a member of India Against Corruption (IAC) said today.
Key Team Anna members Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Gopal Rai are expected to sit on the fast.
The team has been organising public rallies to garner support for the indefinite fast. Yesterday, it took out a car and motor-cycle rally from Raj Ghat to Jantar Mantar in which a large number of people participated.
“IAC chapters across the country will participate in the fast in different states. This fast will be a do or die situation against corruption,” the IAC member said.
Team Anna has said it will make public the “proof” against the Prime Minister and 14 other UPA Cabinet ministers.
The government had rejected Team Anna’s demand to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe against the ministers.
The team said it would also release “proof” of corruption against Pranab Mukherjee, who won the Presidential election yesterday.
The government, however, has said there was no justification for Team Anna’s indefinite fast from July 25 unless there was a ‘political’ motive.
The government has claimed that the Lokpal Bill, which it has introduced in Parliament, was the ‘best’.
The Lokpal Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha last year but failed to get the Rajya Sabha nod. It has been referred to the Select Committee of the Upper House.
Team Anna has alleged that the government’s intention was not clear on the bill.
The July 25 fast will be the fourth fast of the team on Lokpal issue since 2011.
Mr Hazare began his fast for Jan Lokpal from April 5 at Jantar Mantar. He ended his fast on April 9 after the government agreed to form a joint committee of the representatives of the government and the civil society to draft a stronger anti-corruption bill.
The Gandhian again sat on an indefinite fast after his arrest in August 2011. He started his fast at Ramlila Maidan when the bill was not passed by August 15 and ended the fast on August 20.
On December 27, Mr Hazare began a three-day hunger strike at MMRDA grounds, Bandra Kurla Complex, to demand a stronger Lokpal bill that was in debate in Parliament.
The Gandhian ended his fast midway on December 28, due to deteriorating health condition.
(UNI)
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