Anna back, fasts for whistleblowers' protection

Almost a year after he launched his campaign for a jan lokpal, social activist Anna Hazare returns to Delhi’s Jantar Mantar today for a one-day token fast that could see his team sharpening the attack on political parties. HT reports. Police gears up for Team Anna

Almost a year after he launched his campaign for a jan lokpal, social activist Anna Hazare will return to Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Sunday for a one-day token fast that could see his team sharpening the attack on political parties and widening the scope of the anti-graft campaign.

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No key political leaders are on Hazare’s invitation list, unlike his public meeting at the same venue in December last year to get the parties to commit to the jan lokpal bill.

Team Anna has instead invited the families of two dozen whistleblowers. “They will put forward cases about what happened to them and whether or not they got justice,” said Team Anna member Kiran Bedi. She said whistleblowers have waged a lonely battle against corruption and at times paid with their lives.

A Team Anna member indicated that speeches made at Sunday’s gathering could betray the sense of disappointment with the political class for not pushing the case for a jan lokpal. The member maintained that the meeting would be as successful as Hazare’s previous gatherings in Delhi.

The meeting is crucial as political parties, particularly the UPA, would be closely looking at public participation to gauge Hazare’s support base.