The Rajampet

Anna Hazare provided the first push. And now the rest of the country is at war — against corruption

I received an email on the morning of April 5. The subject line -- From Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kejriwal -- immediately caught my attention. The rest of the email, however, opened my eyes.

The first line of the email read: Anna Hazare fasts unto death starting 5th April. I vaguely recalled who Anna Hazare was. I remembered he was in the news for completely changing the face of a village in Maharashtra.

The rest of the email was as follows:

He is demanding enactment of a strong anti-corruption law - Jan Lokpal Bill - to ensure swiftness and certainty of punishment to the corrupt.

Will his fast have any impact on the deaf Government of India?

Yes, it certainly would. Because, last time when Anna sat on fast 6 corrupt ministers in Maharashtra had to resign; 400 corrupt officers were dismissed from their jobs; the Maharashtra RTI Act was passed (2002); the Government of India withdrew its proposal to amend Central RTI Act (2006).

Now Anna is fasting to demand Jan Lokpal Bill. Jan Lokpal Bill will act as deterrent and instil fear in the minds of corrupt people.

The email went on to quote a software engineer:

"At 73, Anna is not fasting for himself, he is fasting for the future of my kid. I will myself fast on 5th April for a day and ask my 5-year-old daughter also to skip a meal on 5th April," Rakesh, a software engineer.

And then followed four words that, one day later, the Indian People have taken very seriously:

What can you do?

The rest of the email went on to describe the salient features of the Jan Lokpal Bill and provided links to contact 'India Against Corruption', the group that organised the agitation against corruption. When I signed up on their Facebook page, on Wednesday morning, there were 36,702 members. Today, less than 24 hours later, there are more than 59,000.

Anna Hazare's campaign has touched a nerve. In a nation where every second person is below 25 years of age, it was a matter of shame to see a 73-year-old take the fight to the government. More than 130 comments flooded my previous post, and each was a louder war cry than the other. The sentiment was the same: End Corruption. Now.

Are we seeing a movement akin to what the Arab World saw barely a month ago? Are we seeing the imminent ouster of the bigwigs in our cabinet? Anna Hazare's campaign has already claimed one: Sharad Pawar stepped down as the head of the group of ministers drafting the anti-corruption bill for the government.

The clarion calls, however, are only rising in intensity.

People from all walks of life have pledged their support for Anna Hazare. J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah says it's a good campaign. Actor Anupam Kher tweeted: When somebody is fighting corruption I don't judge his ways. I applaud his intentions and actions. I am with Anna Hazare. Are you?

Actor Aamir Khan wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh: "What Hazare is saying makes a lot of sense to me. I am one of the many who feel that strong steps need to be taken as corrective measures."

Thousands flocked to Jantar Mantar, a Mughal landmark which has now become the lodestone for those seeking to right governmental wrongs. The gathering included Magsaysay award winners Medha Patkar, Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Sandeep Pandey.

Thousands more stepped out of their homes in various states to be counted amongst those in this fight against corruption. The word had spread through word of mouth, Facebook, Twitter, SMSs and e-mails.
Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Mahindra group, Anand Mahindra, tweeted: "This is a movement whose heart and voice cannot be ignored. If only industry captains can voice their support for Anna Hazare."

An update on the Facebook page said 500 supporters from Gurgaon will join Hazare on Thursday. There were hundreds of comments from people who wanted to know if there were protests happening in their cities.

At Lucknow University, scores gathered at the Jhulelal Park where three social activists have been fasting since Tuesday. In Bangalore, four people were on an indefinite fast as part of the nationwide campaign and scores more joined in a relay hunger strike. In what appeared to be a truly pan-India sentiment, ditto was the story in Agra and hundreds of other towns.

And the anger has shaken the government.

For a body that has played divisive politics for decades, the thought of a united India is unnerving. Hence the placatory notes from Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan: "We respect Anna Hazare and hold him in high esteem."

HRD Minister Kapil Sibal went a step further (or backwards): "I am really surprised that an extreme position has been taken."

Let me ask you this, Mr Sibal: How many scams have been unearthed in the past six months? If you know the answer, you will surely realise that now is precisely the time for extreme measures.

Anna Hazare has taken the most difficult first step: He has started the revolution. What we must now do is consolidate that movement. We must compliment the thousands who have come out in the streets alongside Anna Hazare. And the only way to do that is to support Anna Hazare in every way we can.

B. Raman, former additional secretary, RAW, who has joined Hazare, tweeted: "Jantar Mantar will become our Tahrir square."

It is up to us to make it.

Let us know about the Jan lokpal bill & its important.

Mr. Anna Hazare is fasting in Delhi, let us support him against corruption by forwarding this mail.

Many of us may not be aware of that that social reformer Mr.Anna Hazare is fasting on Jantar mantar Delhi for enactment of JAN LOKPAL BILL.

He is well supported by many of social workers like Ms. Kiran Bedi and Mr. Arvind Kejriwal.

This Bill is pending for over 42 years. The old bill needs to be amended and a stronger bill must be passed. some of the key points are mentioned in the attached document file.

for more info you can log on to following site...

http://indiaagainstcorruption.org/

To know more in video form and about Anna Hazare you can view this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxksAURdwTI&feature=player_embedded#at=524

Pls do your bit to pass on this mail to billions of Indians who pay their taxes and are looted by politicians and public servants.

Text of Aamir Khan's letter to Anna Hazare 

Mumbai,
6th April, 2011.

Dear Mr. Hazare,

Over the last few days I have been following, through the media coverage, news about your struggle against corruption and the fast that you have undertaken.

I have been through your appeal.

I have been through the draft provided by the media of the government proposed Lokpal bill, which is under consideration of the government, which you are opposing.

Through the internet, I have also been through the draft of the Jan Lokpal Bill as drafted by the members of the Civil Society, which you are supporting.

I would like you to know that I am amongst thousands who are fully supportive of your efforts. The crusade that you have begun is an extremely important one, and I would like to extend my support to you.

For your information, I have written to our Hon'ble Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh requesting him to pay heed to your appeal. I am attaching my letter to him for you to read.

You are an inspiration for the youth of this country and my prayers are with you.

Like the country has supported the Indian Cricket team in their struggle to win the World Cup, I hope and pray that your struggle, which is infinitely more important, and affects each and every one of us, will get an even greater support.

Jai Hind.

Yours sincerely, 
Aamir Khan  

Come forward, let us support Mr Hazare against corruption by forwarding this mail  for our betterment and stop Corruption in the future!

Spread awareness.....