When Gandhian Anna Hazare ended his
hunger strike (after fasting for
12 full days) following Indian
Parliament’s resolution for a stronger anti-graft law, he
himself said it was half-victory. But nobody denied that
millions of common Indians rallied behind him for a Jan Lokpal
and finally the law makers had to bow down to public furies.
Under the leadership of Anna
Hazare, 74, the up-charge for a public ombudsman that would have
the authority to investigate and punish the corrupt politicians
and bureaucrats including that of Prime Minister’s Office, took
the shape of another Freedom Movement.
The UPA government led by Indian
National Congress initially overlooked the public sentiment and
submitted a seemingly week anti-graft bill in the Parliament.
Some of Congress leaders even made ridiculous statement that
Anna Hazare himself was a corrupt person and so he does not have
right to speak against corruption. The anti-corruption crusader
was also put in Tihar jail for some time, but soon the
government faced the hit and was compelled to retreat.
Meanwhile the civil society groups
under the banner of India Against Corruption, which drafted a
pro-people Lokpal Bill, have poured their supports for a
powerful anti-corruption law. Among many others yoga-guru
Ramdev, Art of Living preacher Rabishankar and Narmada Bachao
Andolan leader Medha Patkar also extended their whole hearted
supports to the cause.
Under pressure, Prime Minister Dr
Singh had to open up his mind emphasizing on dialogue with the
team of Anna Hazare to bring an end to the difficult situation
for the government. Dr Singh, while claiming that his government
was seriously undertaking the matter of corruption, however
insisted that making a law needs time as the bill has to pass
through various necessary steps.
The Assam chief minister Tarun
Gogoi parroted similar version and argued that he too want to
curb the corruption. But unless common people’s participation,
he said, a law alone cannot check the corruption in our society.
Later the head of the State government on Aug 26 declared that
the Assam chief minister office would be brought under the ambit
of Lokayukta following the Parliament’s final conformity on
Lokpal Bill.
While Anna and his team led protest
demonstration at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi, various groups
organized demonstrations in every important city and towns of
the country including the alienated Northeast region.
Various socio-political
organizations of Assam joined the movement and the relay hunger
strike by the citizens continued in different places of the
State. Members belonging to Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, All
Assam Students’ Union, AJYCP with various other groups and
political parties joined in rallies and candle lit processions.
In fact, the citizens from all
walks of life expressed their solidarity for Anna’s movement and
responded to the call of ‘India Against Corruption’ for the
cause of a corruption free India. They participated in the relay
hunger strike at Lakshidhar Bora Khetra in Dighalipukhuri
locality since August 16 till August 28.The protesters chanted
patriotic slogans and kept the national flag flying high all the
time.
Amusing the people of the region,
United Liberation Front of Assam military chief Paresh Barua,
National Democratic Front of Bodoland chief Ranjan Daimary and
Karbi People's Liberation Tigers secretary general Nilip Enghi
extended their supports to Anna Hazare for his movement. The
militant leaders send e-mail statements to the media and
commented that the Gandhian had led an important fight against
corruption.
Anna and his team comprising Arvind
Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi, Shanti Bhushan, Manish Sisodia, Akhil
Gogoi etc may not hit the target till date, but the uprising
brought good news for the patriotic people of Northeast India.
The movement has made it clear that we can fight the government
even after saluting the National flag.
It became almost a rare occasion to
see the tricolour flying in the trouble-torn Northeast. Even the
Independence Day and Republic Day witnessed very few flags
hoisted in the region for many years as the separatist militants
continue imposing diktats on the celebration on both the
auspicious Days.
In the conflict ridden Northeast,
it became a routine exercise to ignore (or reject) the tricolour
whenever one talks against the Union government. Hence no
protest demonstrator against New Delhi use to carry the national
flag, as it was understood as the symbol of Central government.
The historic Assam movement
witnessed the worshiping of Gandhi but never adore the national
flag. It was not acceptable to the people that carrying the
tricolour one can raise voice against New Delhi. In fact, the
common people simply forgot that many great souls from the
Northeast too sacrificed their lives with the spirit of our
national flag.
But the movement of Anna Hazare made it clear
that the government is not synonymous with the national flag. So
protesting against the government does not necessarily mean the
opposition (or hatred) to the tricolour. Rather every patriotic
Indian should honour the national flag as it resembles our
martyrs (of freedom movement) and definitely not the regime in
New Delhi.
