Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | 90% of people in Amethi support Lokpal Bill: Team Anna by Himanshi Dhawan

90% of people in Amethi support Lokpal Bill: Team Anna by Himanshi Dhawan

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Aug 11, 2011   modified Modified on Aug 11, 2011


Buoyed by what they claimed to be a ringing endorsement of the Jan Lokpal Bill in Congress scion Rahul Gandhi's constituency, Team Anna on Thursday swiftly ramped up its plans, announcing a dramatic hour-long blackout to coincide with August 15.

Announcing the results of the "referendum" in Amethi, Team Anna claimed that 90% of Rahul's constituents polled by them had supported their version of Lokpal Bill. The Hazare group said over 83,000 people participated in the referendum.

Speaking after a meeting with fellow activists, Anna Hazare threatened to intensify his hunger strike and press for 'jail bharo andolan' if he was force fed or detained in a hospital against his wishes. He said, "If the government resorts to force, or confines me to a hospital against my wishes, I will give up even water and give the call for jail bharo.'' Hazare will launch his indefinite fast on August 16.

Besides the huge symbolic value, the August 15 blackout plan is significant for other reasons. Blackouts were successfully used as dramatic mass mobilization tools during the Navnirman movement in Gujarat and JP movement in Bihar in the 70s. Middle class colonies of the Capital used the same device to dramatize their protest against V P Singh government's decision to implement Mandal Commission's recommendation for OBC quota in central services.

Congress dismissed the referendum as a gimmick, repeating its taunt that members of civil society were welcome to get their popularity tested in the electoral arena. Earlier, the party and the government had dismissed a similar "referendum" in HRD minister Kapil Sibal's Chandni Chowk constituency, alleging that both the sample and the questionnaire were rigged to secure the result in favour of the campaigners. On Thursday, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said, "What is preventing them from contesting elections if they are so confident of their popularity."

However, taken together with the resoluteness Hazare displayed on Thursday, the tactic points to the determination of civil society to continue harrying the government.

The group received a major boost after the results of the 'referendum' conducted in Amethi came. According to IAC aide Sanjay Singh -- who was closely associated with the survey - 95% of the over 83,000 people polled said that citizens charter should be part of the Lokpal bill. About 72% felt judiciary should be included in the ambit of the anti-corruption law while 87% felt PM should be brought within the bill.

The survey conducted between July 25-August 9 echoes the findings of the Delhi referendum where 85% of the people polled in Sibal's constituency supported the Jan Lokpal Bill.

Activist Arvind Kejriwal said there was no going back on the demands raised by them. "We are not ready to compromise with anyone till our demands are met. The deadlock continues. We are open for any dialogue but there is no invitation from the government yet," he said.

His comments came when asked about Swami Agnivesh's comments that the Hazare team was "very very flexible" on issues like inclusion of PM or higher judiciary under the ambit of the ombudsman but the sticking point was bringing lower bureaucracy in it.

The Times of India, 12 August, 2011, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/90-of-people-in-Amethi-support-Lokpal-Bill-Team-Anna/articleshow/9573316.cms


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close