New Delhi:
He's 92 years old, but Gandhian Shambhu Dutta's fight against corruption continues. For the past 15 years he has rallied for the Lokpal Bill.
Dutta heads an NGO and 11 years ago, he had sent out a questionnaire to the Members of Parliament, asking them to push for the bill and seeking to bar those with corruption and criminal cases from contesting elections.
Over a 100 MPs responded and among them was Dr Manmohan Singh, then the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha.
"I had sent around post cards to MPs with questions, and had asked them to tick yes or no. And Manmohan Singh had said yes to all the demands," said Mr Dutta.
But nothing happened after that. Dutta held several satyagrahas including the one in January this year. He sat on a fast at Jantar Mantar, but was dissuaded by supporters due to his age and failing health.
Dutta quit his job in the Army to join the Quit India Movement. He was also jailed during the Emergency.
Now he hopes he will see the Lokpal Bill, that has been pending for the last 42 years, become a reality.
If that doesn't happen he's willing to go on a fast yet again.
"Now on May 1, we will start our satyagraha. It may not be necessary, but we will be writing into the government, asking them to give a time commitment about the other two demands as well," said Mr Dutta.