Civil society group garners city support for Anna’s Aug 16 fast

To garner support for social activist Anna Hazare, civil society group, India Against Corruption (IAC), will start registrations for a one-day relay fast in city on August 16 — the day when Anna will begin his fast demanding an effective Lokpal Bill in New Delhi — from July 17. Prajakta Chavan reports.

To garner support for social activist Anna Hazare, civil society group, India Against Corruption (IAC), will start registrations for a one-day relay fast in city on August 16 — the day when Anna will begin his fast demanding an effective Lokpal Bill in New Delhi — from July 17.

HT Image

The IAC plans to get nearly 1 lakh participants for the relay fast proposed outside 8-10 railway stations in the city if the government draft of the bill is found to be ineffective. Mayank Gandhi, IAC Mumbai coordinator, said: “Our volunteers will go on a door-to-door campaign to educate people about the Lokpal Bill. We will wait to see what kind of bill is proposed in the Parliament. If the bill is not strong, we will read it out publicly on August 9 and burn it as a mark of protest. Also, we will protest outside 8-10 railway stations by fasting on August 16.”

Earlier, the IAC had conducted a referendum on the Lokpal Bill across the city. Of the 1 lakh participants, nearly 96% favoured the bill proposed by the civil society, which included getting prime minister and the judiciary under its ambit.

Moreover, over 40 colleges are expected to participate in the debates on Lokpal Bill, corruption and other related issues to be organised by the IAC from July 18 to August 7.

“Though our focus will be on corruption, debates will also be held on socially-relevant issues such as drinking age limit, separation of Kashmir, formation of Telangana, sections in constitution that need amendment,” said Vyomesh Panchmatia, businessman and IAC volunteer from Matunga.