Would keep check on implementation: Hazare

Ralegan Siddhi: Anna Hazare on Wednesday broke his nine-day fast shortly after Lok Sabha passed the Lokpal Bill, and announced he would form “watchdog bodies” comprising people of “impeccable integrity” to keep an eye on how the law is enforced.
Looking a bit frail yet brimming with enthusiasm after the landmark bill was passed by the Lok Sabha, Hazare thanked all parties, barring Samajwadi Party, for their support, but obliquely criticised his former proteges in the Aaam Aadmi Party, his fellow travellers in the Jan Lokpal movement, who have dubbed the new legislation as “Jokepal” bill.
Hazare, who had been crusading for anti-corruption ombudsman for long and had forced passage of the bill in the Lok Sabha in 2011 through his fast at Ramlila Maidan, hoped the bill is signed into a law within 2-3 months.
Hazare, however, said mere enactment of the law would not serve the purpose and announced he would form “watchdog bodies” in states and districts to keep an eye on how the law was being enforced.
“The law will be meaningless unless it is implemented and enforced properly. I will constitute watchdog bodies at all levels…in states, districts everywhere.
“These bodies having retired judges, state police chiefs and others with impeccable integrity will keep vigilance on how the law is implemented. Only then the people will benefit from this law,” he said.
Hazare, who thanked everybody, from MPs to political parties, Rajya Sabha’s Select Committee, to policemen at his fast venue, the ‘pandalwala’ to the doctors who looked after him during the hunger strike, his fourth for Lokpal, chose not to make any mention of Arvind Kejriwal and others from the AAP, who played a role in building the movement.
Instead, before beginning his speech, Hazare chastised some people standing in front of TV cameras, to apparently target Kejriwal and his band of media-savvy supporters.
“The country or society does not benefit from people who stand before cameras. If I had chosen to stand in front of the cameras, I would not have reached where I have,” he said.
The anti-graft crusader had ordered a frontline AAP leader Gopal Rai out of his fast venue and village after he had engaged in a spat with former Army chief General VK Singh, who had slammed Kejriwal and others for having deserted Hazare and formed a political party.
Hazare had special praise for the Select Committee, which included several provisions for strengthening the Lokpal Bill after it was passed by the Lok Sabha in 2011.
“I thank the Select Committee on behalf of Ralegan Siddhi family and people of the country. The bill passed by the Lok Sabha was weak. The improvements made by the Select Committee are in conformity with the aspirations of the people,” he said.
“I thank all members of the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha with folded hands as they have taken a good step for the country. For the first time in 66 years a law is set to be made that would put brakes on corruption,” he said. He also thanked Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and BJP leaders for “awakening” the parties who later backed the legislation.
Hazare voiced hope that the bill would be signed into a law within 1-2 months, before the model code of conduct for next year’s general elections kicks in.
Though Hazare hardly had any good word for his former comrades, his key aide and former IPS officer Kiran Bedi seemed to acknowledge their role in the Lokpal movement when she thanked “all those who laid the foundation of the movement”.
Hazare later drank a glass of coconut water offered by three school children from Ralegan Siddhi to break his fast. (PTI)

Hazare: A veteran of 18 ‘fast’ agitations

Ralegan Siddhi: On Wednesday, Anna Hazare finally called off his 18th fast — most unlikely to be his last — during his prolonged struggles for various public causes.
The first fast the former Indian Army soldier undertook was in June 1980, and lasted for one day and was held in Ahmednagar.
Hazare’s second fast, lasting two days, was at his village Ralegan Siddhi in June 1982, while his third fast, lasting five days, was also in his native village in February 1989.
In November 1989, his fourth fast lasting nine days in his native village. The anti-corruption crusader had fasted for six days at Alandi in Pune district in May 1994, while in November 1996, he had fasted for 12 days in his village.
His seventh fast, lasting 10 days, was at Ralegan Siddhi, in May 1997, followed by another one lasting 10 days in Alandi in August 1999.
His ninth fast, lasting nine days, was at Mumbai in August 2003. He had observed a nine-day fast in his village in February 2004.
Hazare’s 11th fast, lasting 11 days, was held in Alandi in August 2006.
The anti-corruption crusader had fasted for 10 days in his native village from December 2005-January 2006. He had also observed a nine-day fast in his village in October 2009.
Hazare’s 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th fasts were for the Lokpal Bill.
The 15th fast, lasting five days in April 2011, and the 16th fast in August 2011 lasting 13 days were in Delhi.
The 17th fast was in Mumbai in December 2011 and lasted two days and the 18th fast, at Ralegan Siddhi, lasted nine days and was called off on Wednesday. (IANS)