Yoga guru Ramdev and Anna Hazare undertook a day-long fast protesting against corruption and black money, at Parliament Street near Jantar Mantar in the nation’s capital on Sunday, but the if the attendance was any indication, the anti-corruption movement seems to be losing steam.
The duo attacked the UPA government and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for stalling a strong Lokpal Bill and not bringing back black money stashed abroad, but the only excitement during the day was Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal leaving the venue abruptly, and a man prevented from attempting suicide.
Ramdev’s fiery speech targeting the prime minister could hardly rouse the crowd of about 7,500. Unlike at previous Hazare fasts and Ramdev’s Ramlila Maidan show last year, the crowd was mainly older people and retirees. The youth, whose enthusiastic and dynamic presence conferred such clout on Hazare were missing.
Ramdev began his campaign by calling upon Manmohan Singh to make his cabinet corruption-free. “You (Manmohan Singh) are an honest person. But you hold the highest constitutional post. You have to take care of the political, constitutional and democratic responsibility. Your personal honesty is not enough and you have to be politically honest too and keep your cabinet clean,” he said.
Hazare repeated his demand for electors’ right to recall their representatives. Stressing that the right to reject will keep out of Parliament people facing criminal cases, he said when voters feel that none of the candidates contesting are good, they should have the right to reject the candidates.
“Politicians think after death they will go to Samsan Ghat (burial ground) along with their chair (power),” Hazare mocked.
Former IPS officer Kiran Bedi asked people not to vote for politicians who are opposed to the Lokpal in the next elections.
“There is no democracy in UAE. The hands of thieves are chopped off there. If the Central Bureau of Investigation is under the control of Lokpal, wrongdoers will have the same fear,” said Kiran Bedi, who was also on fast along with other Team Anna members Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia.
Taking the attack on politicians further, Kejriwal said Parliament would never pass the Lokpal Bill as long as MPs like Lalu Prasad, A Raja, Suresh Kalmadi and Mulayam Singh Yadav are present. “How can we expect a Lokpal Bill if 162 Lok Sabha members and 39 Rajya Sabha members have cases against them?” he said.
As Kejriwal named parliamentarians during his speech. Ramdev quickly snubbed him for naming MPs and then downplayed the issue. Soon after, Kejriwal exited the venue, although he later explained that he had left because he was “unwell”.
At end of the fast, Ramdev said from June 3, the protest against black money would be taken to rural areas and in all villages across the nation, and on August 9 they would resume their agitation.