New Delhi:
Social activist Anna Hazare is set to approach Supreme Court on Monday to ensure the government doesn't suppress his campaign against corruption starting on August 16, the way it suppressed Ramdev's fast at the Ramlila Maidan. In his appeal to the Chief Justice of India, Anna Hazare is expected to say that it is the constitutional right of the people to protest and that the government should not stop them. Anna Hazare intends to start his fast on August 16 in New Delhi.
A defiant Hazare said, "The government says Ramdev's campaign was crushed, in the same way Anna's agitation will be crushed. Is this a democracy? We will go to the Supreme Court."
In fact, the Supreme Court had pulled up Delhi Police in July for the midnight crackdown on Baba Ramdev and his supporters at the Ramlila Maidan on June 4. The apex court had asked Delhi Police to explain what provoked it to use teargas and baton-charge in the closed enclosure on people who were sleeping.
In April, Jantar Mantar became the base camp for lakhs of Indians who supported Mr Hazare as he fasted for nearly a week. Satellite protests in cities across India stumped the government, which agreed to Mr Hazare's demands. He wanted a new law against corruption to be enacted, and he wanted activists who represent civil society to formally draft that law. After arguing that legislation was the prerogative of Parliament, the government gave in.
Mr Hazare and four activists, including Mr Kejriwal, formed one half of the Lokpal Bill drafting committee; five senior ministers formed the other. But the two sides have not been able to bridge their gap. The biggest points of difference is whether the Prime Minister and senior judges should be covered by the Lokpal Bill. The activists say even basics like who should appoint the 11 members of the Lokpal remain unresolved.