Hundreds join Anna Hazare-led campaign against corruption

MUMBAI: Several hundred activists from various parts of the city, who were part of the Anna Hazare-led campaign against corruption, were prevented by the police from staging a road blockade outside Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus at 5.30 pm on Tuesday The activists, waving national flags, shouted slogans against corruption .

The blockade attempt came after a meeting at Azad Maidan, which was addressed by several leaders, including Medha Patkar, who railed against growing corruption in the country.

Mayank Gandhi, coordinator for the India Against Corruption campaign in Mumbai, told TOI that the prime minister's office and the central government had heeded the call given by Hazare, who is on a fast-unto death in Delhi, and had called him for discussions.

The citizens are demanding a strict law to fight corruption in the country. They felt that the Jan Lokpal Bill, drafted by citizen activists Arvind Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan and Kiran Bedi, will be a powerful tool to stamp out corruption. The bill has been sought to be diluted by the Central government so that its clauses lack the necessary teeth to tackle corruption, the activists said.

Gordon D'Souza , an activist from the Mumbai Catholic Sabha, said a crucial demand was that the committee that looks into cases of corruption should have 50% of its members appointed from citizens groups, as it would make it more effective.

Gandhi said scores of activists from citizens groups in the city and state had jointed the protest, which started from Shivaji Park and made its way to Azad Maidan by 11 am.

Over 25 of the activists went on an indefinite hunger strike at the maidan in the evening.

Rajhans Mishra, a right to information activist, said the struggle would go on, while D'Souza remarked that the movement against corruption had gained momentum in the country.

"Our groups are protesting against corruption in 100 cities and towns across India,'' he said.

source: TOI