New Delhi: Gandhian Anna Hazare has appealed to the nation to turn off the lights for an hour Aug 15 in a gesture meant to give momentum to their indefinite hunger strike from the next day.
Team Hazare has been granted a spot adjacent to the Firoz Shah Kotla Ground in the capital to hold its protest from Aug 16.
“On Aug 15, at 7 p.m., Anna will appeal to the nation to join the hunger strike for the sake of the country and appeal to everyone to turn out their lights between 8-9 p.m.,” Arvind Kejriwal of Team Anna told reporters Thursday.
“We appeal that in that one hour of darkness, they should light a ‘diya’ (an earthen lamp) which will signify a ray of hope to remove illiteracy, hunger and corruption from this country,” he added.
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Team Anna asserted there will be no compromise on their demands but left the door open for further talks with the government.
Hazare threatened to stop drinking water if the government arrests him before or during the fast and tries to force feed him. The Hazare team also expressed satisfaction at choice of venue — Jai Prakash Narain Park near Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium — offered to them by police for holding the fast.
Activist Arvind Kejriwal appealed to the people to maintain calm during the fast. “We have got reports that in some place, some troublemakers might enter the protest and try to spread violence. We appeal to the people to be aware of such elements,” he said.
To finetune the strategy for the protest, the Core Committee of the Hazare team met here this morning and appealed to people to organise relay fast on August 16.
Arvind Kejriwal, a close associate of Hazare, said there was no going back on the demands raised by them. “We are not ready to compromise with anyone till our demands are met. The deadlock continues. We are open for any dialogue but there is no invitation from the government yet,” he said. Kejriwal was reacting to activist Swami Agnivesh’s comments that the Hazare team was “very very flexible” on issues like inclusion of prime minister or higher judiciary under the ambit of the ombudsman but the sticking point is bringing lower bureaucracy in it. (Agencies)
