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  Metros   Mumbai  30 Nov 2017  Anna Hazare to launch fresh Jan Lokpal protest in March

Anna Hazare to launch fresh Jan Lokpal protest in March

THE ASIAN AGE.
Published : Nov 30, 2017, 6:03 am IST
Updated : Nov 30, 2017, 6:03 am IST

Hazare has been demanding the formation of Jan Lokpal to keep a check on corruption.

Anna Hazare
 Anna Hazare

After staying away from any major agitation for a long time, social activist Anna Hazare is going to launch a fresh protest over his demand related to the appointment of an anti-corruption ombudsman, Jan Lokpal, and farmers’ issues in New Delhi on March 23 next year.

Hazare, who has been the face of the Lokpal movement, said they have chosen March 23 to launch the agitation as it happens to be the ‘Shaheed Diwas’ (Martyr’s Day). “This will be a satyagraha for Jan Lokpal, farmers’ issues and poll reforms,” Hazare said, addressing a meeting of his supporters at Ralegan Siddhi village in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district last evening. The veteran Gandhian said he has been writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on these issues but hasn’t received a response.

“At least 12 lakh farmers have committed suicide in the last 22 years. I want to know the number of industrialists committing suicide during this period,” he said. Hazare has been demanding the formation of Jan Lokpal to keep a check on corruption.

An aide of Hazare on Thursday said the Modi government has not
appointed a Lokpal. “The reason given from the government’s side is technical,” he said.

He said according to the Lokpal Act, a committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Lok Sabha speaker, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India or a Supreme Court judge nominated by him should be formed and select the Lokpal.

“However, as there is no leader of opposition in Lok Sabha at present, the committee could not be formed and the Lokpal could not be appointed,” the aide said.

Tags: lokpal, lok sabha speaker, anna hazare