Anna Hazare Lashes Out

There’s a new found confidence in Anna Hazare, the 74-year-old Gandhian social activist who has captured the imagination of the common man in India with his anti-corruption crusade. And, with his own standing continuing to rise while that of India’s politicians tumbles ever further, an increasingly assertive Hazare is now taking on the country’s top politicians. 

Hazare has given his first interviews to two TV channels – Headlines Today and CNN-IBN – since he abandoned his hunger strike in New Delhi last month. In the interviews, Hazare has taken pot shots at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) patriarch L.K. Advani. He described Singh as ‘a remote-controlled prime minister’ who ‘lacks authority.’ He also said that nobody in Singh’s team listens to him.

He went on to dismiss Advani’s proposed nationwide anti-corruption tour, saying that it is simply a ‘political gimmick’ aimed at garnering votes. ‘I don’t think it is for the good of the country and its people. It is aimed at votes. If it is not so, bring about the Lokpal law,’ Hazare said of the ombudsman bill that he and his followers have campaigned for. ‘Then I will support him (Advani). Our yatra is not for votes. It is for people’s awareness,’ he added.

Hazare also launched a frontal attack on union Home Minister P. Chidambaram for ‘masterminding’ his arrest on August 16 and sending him to Tihar Jail, claiming that the government had planned to pack him off to his village in a helicopter.

The diminutive old man is essentially trying to convey to everyone who will listen – and particularly to his detractors – that he is nobody’s man and keeps his own counsel. ‘I am not connected to any party, nor will I ever be a part of any political party,’ he told the two media outlets. He argued that he is willing to extend support to, and campaign for, any political grouping that is corruption-free and belongs to the non-Congress and non-BJP fronts. But in the same breath, he also made it clear that he himself wouldn’t join up with any party.

‘Yes, I will support them, but I will not be a part of the leadership of that party,’ he said. ‘This is the only way we can save this country.’

Why Hazare has waded into the political arena right now, and decided to attack both the government and the main opposition in the process, is unclear. It also remains uncertain whether his latest comments are likely to pave the way for his own political ambitions. High-profile public campaigners like Baba Ramdev and Swami Agnivesh have openly flirted with politics in the past, but Hazare has so far been careful to avoid any such suggestion.

Ironically, Congress leaders may actually have welcomed Hazare’s latest remarks. After all, the BJP had been keen to fan the Anna Hazare fire when it saw him taking on the government head on. Now, though, Hazare doesn’t need any party’s backing. He has, in some ways, become bigger than his makers.

Anna fasting: leaves lasting impact on people’s lives

This is not the end, but a new beginning — this was the general mood on Sunday after Anna Hazare ended his fast. People at the Ramlila Maidan claimed that the movement has only inspired them to continue the revolution in their day-to-day lives.The movement, driven largely by undying public support and enthusiasm, has resulted in heightened awareness of corruption and how it has bled the country white. "I had planned to pay Rs 4,000 as bribe to clear an exam, as I felt I wasn't sufficiently prepared. But after participating in the movement, I have promised myself never to do it. I will not be corrupt," said Deepak Rathi, an engineer from Faridabad.Rahul Raghav, businessman, said: "The first step is not to pay bribe anymore. I own an HR consultancy firm, and most of the time, we have to pay bribes to hire consultants. But this will happen no more, even if I suffer losses. If everyone stops paying bribe, no one will face problems."A group of civil services aspirants present at the grounds claimed that the movement had inspired them to envision future where electoral reforms, decentralization of power and direct involvement of people in nation building was possible. "I am impressed to see that a change at such a mass level could be brought about through the united effort of the common people. Perhaps it has helped to make many people less cynical about life. The movement has certainly given the youth an adrenaline rush," said Dhruva Sharma of the group.Megha Nand Lakhera, who had come with her husband and three-year-old daughter to celebrate the "people's win", said: "Now we will not ignore everyday corruption that we tolerated earlier: be it at ration shops or in public transport. These small things will make a difference, and we have brought our daughter along, hoping that we will be able to educate her for a better tomorrow."

Pray for Anna: The Real Gandhian

Anna Hazare, who is hospitalised after his 12-day fast, today received a 'Get Well Soon' message from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Singh sent the message through an official of his personal staff along with a bouquet of flowers, PMO sources said.

Hazare was admitted in a hospital in Gurgaon on Sunday after he ended his fast for a strong Lokpal Bill.

 Anna Hazare was given soft diet on Tuesday after three days of being hospitalised following his 12-day fast over the Jan Lokpal Bill. The anti-graft crusader, who has been admitted at Gurgaon's Medanta hospital since Sunday, had a plate of poha (pressed rice), doctors said. "For 12 days he was without food. Therefore, we need to gradually put him on a normal diet. We started with soup and juices, then soft fruits, but today he expressed the desire to have poha," said Dr Yatin Mehta, one of the doctors monitoring Anna's health.

"The good thing is he digested it quite well. Anna has not lost weight any further during the past 24 hours. Another sign of improvement was Anna took a brief walk around within the ward. On Monday, he spent most of the time sleeping as he felt very weak. It's a good sign," said Dr Mehta.

Anna, however, has been avoiding newspapers.

"He has made it very clear that he wants to lead a simple life for a few days. He wants to take a break," Dr Mehta added.

It will take five more days before Anna is discharged from the hospital.

"Complete recovery may take more than two weeks as he has lost a lot of fats and muscles. But he can be discharged after five days as he is improving well," said Dr Balram Gupta.