India Against Corruption

India Against Corruption activist Arvind Kejriwal on Monday urged people to participate in large numbers in ‘padyatras’, burning copies of the government’s draft of the Lokpal bill, candle light marches and other activities planned to support social crusader Anna Hazare’s fight for an effective Lokpal to curb corruption.

In a statement issued here, Kejriwal said it was more than evident that the government and all the political parties were unwilling to enact a strong law against corruption because if they did so, many of them would face imprisonment.

 “None of the large scams like the Adarsh, Commonwealth Games, Reddy brothers scam, fodder scam, health mission scam of UP, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha scam, Cash-For-Vote are covered in the government’s Lokpal bill draft. What use is such a Lokpal bill? It is weak and ineffective. It has a very narrow jurisdiction and no corruption faced by a common man is covered under it,” he said.

“Anna’s fast from August 16 is our last hope. We cannot afford to fail this time. For if we fail, we may never get another chance. It’s now or never”, Kejriwal said.

A number of people across the country are planning various protest activities. “From August 1 to 9, people across the country will form small teams and undertake short and long ‘padyatras’. They will talk to people on their way, hold meetings, distribute pamphlets and show the Jan Lokpal film. From August 9, mass burning/tearing of copies of the government’s draft of the Lokpal bill, as a mark of non-violent protest, will be held. Anna is expected to start it from either Delhi or Mumbai. During August 9 to 15, ‘prabhat pheris’ will be held in mornings, where people will sing patriotic songs and educate others about corruption and the Jan Lokpal bill. In the evening, there will be candle light and ‘mashal’ marches,” Kejriwal said.

He has urged people to switch off their lights from 8 pm to 9 pm on August 15 as a mark of support for the anti-corruption movement.

“The government says it will crush Anna’s fast the way it crushed Baba Ramdev’s movement. We are ready for that. We will offer ourselves for arrest if the government decides to arrest us. We are ready to face their batons and bullets. But we will not move from there. We will not retaliate. It will be a completely non-violent movement,” he said. Kejriwal also urged people to take a week off from their work from August 16 and take to the streets and raise slogans against corruption. “Government can impose section 144 at the Jantar Mantar. But will it impose curfew in the whole country? If the whole country takes to the streets, we can force the government to enact a strong Jan Lokpal bill,” he added.