Anna Hazare warns of hunger strike from January 30

December 01, 2018 19:35

Social activist Anna Hazare on Saturday said that he would be forced to launch a hunger strike at his village Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra from January 30, 2019, on 71st death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, to protest against the non-appointment of Lokpal, Lokayuktas despite repeated assurances by the government.

Hazare has written to Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh, accusing the Central government of making excuses to avoid the appointment of Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in the states.

"The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act was passed in 2013. People of the country were hopeful about the appointment of Lokpal and Lokayukta to arrest widespread corruption. However, there was a change of power and Narendra Modi government came to power. After Modi government came to power, we wrote thirty times to the government for appointment of Lokpal, Lokayuktas. However, Modi ji did not even send a reply," reads the letter.

"Initially, Modi government said the Lokpal could not be appointed as there was no leader of the opposition. Later the government started saying since there was no imminent jurist in the selection committee. Therefore, Lokpal, Lokayuktas could not be appointed. Appointment of Lokpal kept getting postponed on some or the other excuse," the letter adds.

"The Supreme Court has admonished Modi government many times and has asked for the appointment of Lokpal and Lokayuktas at the earliest. However, with some or the other excuse the appointment of Lokpal, Lokayukta has not taken place. The present government has spent four years in making excuses," Hazare further states in the letter.

The social activist said that as the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government intentionally did not appoint Lokpal, Lokayuktas in four years, he sat on a fast at the Ramlila Maidan on March 23, 2018, but called it off later when the Prime Minister's Office on March 29, gave a written assurance that his demand would be fulfilled.

Hazare said that despite being in power for more than four years, the Prime Minister Modi government is not appointing Lokpal, Lokayuktas. He also said that the present government does not have intentions of appointing Lokpal Lokayuktas.

-- ANI

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