NEW DELHI: A 73-year-old rights activist said Thursday he will resume his hunger strike to pressure the Indian government after it reneged on a promise to enact strong legislation for an anti-corruption watchdog.Anna Hazare said after a series of meetings with government representatives he has concluded they are not serious about acting on the issue. He told reporters he would resume fasting Aug. 16.
He ended a four-day hunger strike in April after the government set up a committee to draft the legislation. The committee includes Hazare and other nonelected activists.
Public anger in India has been mounting as the government has faced a series of embarrassments over improper telecoms licensing, illegal land acquisitions and irregularities in staging last year’s Commonwealth Games.
Hazare and his supporters have been demanding that actions of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, lawmakers and top judges should be brought within the purview of the watchdog.
On Wednesday, Kapil Sibal, a key government interlocutor, acknowledged differences and said he would present two separate drafts to Singh’s Cabinet for approval.
Hazare rejected Sibal’s proposal and said the government was not serious about acting against corrupt people.
Early this month, a fasting yoga guru Baba Ramdev and thousands of his followers were forced from a New Delhi park in a police raid that injured dozens and sparked even more public outrage.
They demanded immediate government action to seek the return of billions of dollars stashed in overseas tax havens by companies and rich Indians.
Officials said protest had excessive crowds and took a combative tone with “provocative” speeches.
A recent report by Global Financial Integrity suggested at least $464 billion had disappeared overseas since Indian independence in 1947. The illegal flow of cash has swelled to an average of $16 billion a year as the economy has grown in recent years.
He ended a four-day hunger strike in April after the government set up a committee to draft the legislation. The committee includes Hazare and other nonelected activists.
Public anger in India has been mounting as the government has faced a series of embarrassments over improper telecoms licensing, illegal land acquisitions and irregularities in staging last year’s Commonwealth Games.
Hazare and his supporters have been demanding that actions of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, lawmakers and top judges should be brought within the purview of the watchdog.
On Wednesday, Kapil Sibal, a key government interlocutor, acknowledged differences and said he would present two separate drafts to Singh’s Cabinet for approval.
Hazare rejected Sibal’s proposal and said the government was not serious about acting against corrupt people.
Early this month, a fasting yoga guru Baba Ramdev and thousands of his followers were forced from a New Delhi park in a police raid that injured dozens and sparked even more public outrage.
They demanded immediate government action to seek the return of billions of dollars stashed in overseas tax havens by companies and rich Indians.
Officials said protest had excessive crowds and took a combative tone with “provocative” speeches.
A recent report by Global Financial Integrity suggested at least $464 billion had disappeared overseas since Indian independence in 1947. The illegal flow of cash has swelled to an average of $16 billion a year as the economy has grown in recent years.
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