It is not for the first time that social activist Anna Hazare has taken on the government to press for his demand by launching indefinite fast.
In Maharashtra, Hazare is a house-hold name synonmous with fight against corruption. Before leaving for Delhi, Hazare declared at a rally here that he would not return to the state unless his demand for an effective Lok Pal bill is met by the Centre.
Hazare launched his first hunger strike way back in 1989 to protest against erratic power supply and insufficient voltage in rural areas, that were resulting in burning of water pumps and damage to crops.
Hazare conducts all his campaigns from his village Ralegan Siddhi in Ahmednagar district, where he had also implemented various water conservation projects.
In 1993-94, when Sharad Pawar was the chief minister, Hazare again went on a fast to fight against corruption in government departments. One reason for corruption was rampant transfers of officials, and his fast compelled the state government to adopt a transfer policy, by which an official is transferred only after he complets three years in that posting.
During the Shiv Sena-BJP government, Hazare launched a similar fast to force it to appoint an inquiry commission to probe corruption charges against two ministers. The government finally relented, although it did not accept names of panelists which Hazare had asked for. The commission eventually exonerated the ministers of corruption charges.
During the Congress-NCP rules, three cabinet ministers lost their berths after Hazare levelled allegations of corruption against them. He also went on fast against them in Mumbai, which forced the government's hands.
In one case, however, the then Social Welfare Minister Baban Gholap filed a defamation case against Hazare, who could not prove his allegations and was given three months jail term as sentence by a court.
Jail for Hazare
Hazare went to jail, but under huge public pressure, the state government had to release him without putting any conditions. Hazare was also instrumental in forcing the state government to enact Right to Information Act (RTI) in 1998 itself.
One of his protest action and fast compelled the state government to enact a law to ban liquor shops in villages if 50 per cent of women of that village made such a demand.
Hazare's critics say that he makes impossible demands and tries to encroach upon legitimate powers of the government or the legislature.
Whenever the state government appointed inquiry panels in past, he wanted to nominate members of such panels. If those panels concurrred with his views, then that was fine and he was vindicated.
But if those panels come to contrary conclusion, the Hazare would question the very integrity of members of such panels. Perhaps, the same is happening in case of Lok Pal bill.
In Maharashtra, Hazare is a house-hold name synonmous with fight against corruption. Before leaving for Delhi, Hazare declared at a rally here that he would not return to the state unless his demand for an effective Lok Pal bill is met by the Centre.
Hazare launched his first hunger strike way back in 1989 to protest against erratic power supply and insufficient voltage in rural areas, that were resulting in burning of water pumps and damage to crops.
Hazare conducts all his campaigns from his village Ralegan Siddhi in Ahmednagar district, where he had also implemented various water conservation projects.
In 1993-94, when Sharad Pawar was the chief minister, Hazare again went on a fast to fight against corruption in government departments. One reason for corruption was rampant transfers of officials, and his fast compelled the state government to adopt a transfer policy, by which an official is transferred only after he complets three years in that posting.
During the Shiv Sena-BJP government, Hazare launched a similar fast to force it to appoint an inquiry commission to probe corruption charges against two ministers. The government finally relented, although it did not accept names of panelists which Hazare had asked for. The commission eventually exonerated the ministers of corruption charges.
During the Congress-NCP rules, three cabinet ministers lost their berths after Hazare levelled allegations of corruption against them. He also went on fast against them in Mumbai, which forced the government's hands.
In one case, however, the then Social Welfare Minister Baban Gholap filed a defamation case against Hazare, who could not prove his allegations and was given three months jail term as sentence by a court.
Jail for Hazare
Hazare went to jail, but under huge public pressure, the state government had to release him without putting any conditions. Hazare was also instrumental in forcing the state government to enact Right to Information Act (RTI) in 1998 itself.
One of his protest action and fast compelled the state government to enact a law to ban liquor shops in villages if 50 per cent of women of that village made such a demand.
Hazare's critics say that he makes impossible demands and tries to encroach upon legitimate powers of the government or the legislature.
Whenever the state government appointed inquiry panels in past, he wanted to nominate members of such panels. If those panels concurrred with his views, then that was fine and he was vindicated.
But if those panels come to contrary conclusion, the Hazare would question the very integrity of members of such panels. Perhaps, the same is happening in case of Lok Pal bill.
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