Anna should end his fast
Using his moral charisma, Anna Hazare has expressed his frustration over corruption. The Jan Lokpal campaign epitomised the vibrancy of the Indian public. Now since the movement has achieved a great success, if not total success, it's time for Anna to give the movement a break. One reason why Anna should end fast is that the resonance of the Jan Lokpal movement has made the government finally take heed of public desire.
Anna's movement now needs a breather. Every movement has its moments. For the first time in 64 years, a powerful, cohesive public movement has risen against corruption. Through it Anna made his point and it's been duly noted. Corruption will not be tackled in a day. We need crusaders like Anna to keep up a consistent fight against corruption. The government can demonstrate its sincerity to a doubting public by committing to convene a special session of Parliament where all versions of the Lokpal Bill would be discussed. And it's in the interest of all that Anna breaks his fast.
Anna's demand for passage of the Jan Lokpal Bill by August 30 was not a threat but only the exercise of his "fundamental right to express his opinions". To stop corruption we need the Jan Lokpal Bill and Anna is asking for it as his fundamental right. He has no political power or weapons to force the government into action, but he has the right to state his point of view.
Anna should now relax his stand and give the government enough time to look into his demands and consider them. Lokpal Bill debate had gone on in Parliament for 42 years. The Bill has been brought to the Parliament nine times already and a debate has been on for the past eight months.
Police presence has been sharply increased at the Ramlila Maidan, raising fears of the 74-year-old fasting Anna of being forcibly removed from the grounds. Government sources, too, admitted that that some "intervention" might become inevitable. But Anna is using typical Gandhian strategies. He said if the government wanted to pick him up, he would readily submit to the authorities. Any violence, he said, would defeat their movement. He told his followers to embark on a "jail bharo" agitation if he was arrested and peacefully picket government leaders and MPs.
The government has rejected Team Anna's demand that the Lokpal bill be passed within the next four days. The government representatives also brushed aside any concern for Anna's health while saying that was the headache of the civil society activists. The government has clarified that while Parliament was ready to consider the Jan Lokpal Bill, it would also consider other versions of the anti-graft bill. Government's tough posture came against the backdrop of hardening of mood in the face of Hazare's pressure tactics. So it would be wise on Anna's part to end his fast and offer the government reasonable period of time to consider his demands.
Using his moral charisma, Anna Hazare has expressed his frustration over corruption. The Jan Lokpal campaign epitomised the vibrancy of the Indian public. Now since the movement has achieved a great success, if not total success, it's time for Anna to give the movement a break. One reason why Anna should end fast is that the resonance of the Jan Lokpal movement has made the government finally take heed of public desire.
Anna's movement now needs a breather. Every movement has its moments. For the first time in 64 years, a powerful, cohesive public movement has risen against corruption. Through it Anna made his point and it's been duly noted. Corruption will not be tackled in a day. We need crusaders like Anna to keep up a consistent fight against corruption. The government can demonstrate its sincerity to a doubting public by committing to convene a special session of Parliament where all versions of the Lokpal Bill would be discussed. And it's in the interest of all that Anna breaks his fast.
Anna's demand for passage of the Jan Lokpal Bill by August 30 was not a threat but only the exercise of his "fundamental right to express his opinions". To stop corruption we need the Jan Lokpal Bill and Anna is asking for it as his fundamental right. He has no political power or weapons to force the government into action, but he has the right to state his point of view.
Anna should now relax his stand and give the government enough time to look into his demands and consider them. Lokpal Bill debate had gone on in Parliament for 42 years. The Bill has been brought to the Parliament nine times already and a debate has been on for the past eight months.
Police presence has been sharply increased at the Ramlila Maidan, raising fears of the 74-year-old fasting Anna of being forcibly removed from the grounds. Government sources, too, admitted that that some "intervention" might become inevitable. But Anna is using typical Gandhian strategies. He said if the government wanted to pick him up, he would readily submit to the authorities. Any violence, he said, would defeat their movement. He told his followers to embark on a "jail bharo" agitation if he was arrested and peacefully picket government leaders and MPs.
The government has rejected Team Anna's demand that the Lokpal bill be passed within the next four days. The government representatives also brushed aside any concern for Anna's health while saying that was the headache of the civil society activists. The government has clarified that while Parliament was ready to consider the Jan Lokpal Bill, it would also consider other versions of the anti-graft bill. Government's tough posture came against the backdrop of hardening of mood in the face of Hazare's pressure tactics. So it would be wise on Anna's part to end his fast and offer the government reasonable period of time to consider his demands.
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