Anna team takes on 'tyrannical regime'
Gravely disappointed despite running from pillar to post in a bid to seek clearance for the much-anticipated fast-unto-death, Team Anna, a mere two days before the country celebrates its 64th Independence Day, questioned the credibility of the Manmohan Singh-led government and compared its alleged muzzling of democratic dissent with that of a tyrannical regime.
Gravely disappointed despite running from pillar to post in a bid to seek clearance for the much-anticipated fast-unto-death, Team Anna, a mere two days before the country celebrates its 64th Independence Day, questioned the credibility of the Manmohan Singh-led government and compared its alleged muzzling of democratic dissent with that of a tyrannical regime.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Constitution Club on Saturday, hours after being slapped with 'unconstitutional' riders, the resentment was more than palpable as Anna Hazare, Shanti Bhushan, Kiran Bedi, Swami Agnivesh and Arvind Kejriwal, shared with reporters the contents of an open letter that they had written to the Prime Minister.
"Since the last fast at Jantar Mantar, after which the government assured us of a stronger lokpal bill, our volunteers have been made to run from police station to police station, from one civic agency and one ministry to the next one - but to no avail," rued a hassled Hazare amidst a surging crowd of flashing shutterbugs and reporters before he accused the government of having cheated not only him but the whole nation with false promises.
Asked whether he was aware of, and in agreement with, his critics in the establishment who accused him of blackmailing the government, a composed Hazare retorted saying that he had no qualms 'blackmailing' a government that was itself was corrupt to the very core.
"Mahatma Gandhi has taught us not to bow before tyrants and a dictatorial government. If the government continues to stifle the fundamental rights of the people of this country, the people will teach it the same lesson that they taught a similar government in the darkest hour of its history, that is, during the Emergency between 1975 and 1977," warned Shanti Bhushan.
Meanwhile, members of team Anna visited the Jai Prakash Narayan Park in central Delhi on Saturday evening for a recce and were seen discussing with Delhi Police personnel the possible places to erect certain structures for the agitation.
Manish Sisodia, a member of IAC, told Hindustan Times, "We plan to erect a small stage and a water-proof pandal in the park that can accommodate around 2,000 people. The work would start on the evening of August 15."