NEW DELHI: Crowds thronged Raj Ghat on the eve of Anna Hazare's proposed fast as the activist made an unscheduled stop at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial to pray and meditate, in a move high on symbolism and media savvy. As news channels telecast the event, the unmistakable symbolism of an aging meditating figure in white khadi and a Gandhi cap at the Raj Ghat agitating against the establishment , spurred a crowd to gather there in support of the cause.
Hazare, who is scheduled to start an indefinite hunger strike on Tuesday, subsequently addressed a media conference that the campaign chose to call "Anna's address to the nation" . The contrast to the Prime Minister's address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort earlier in the day was unmistakable. Hazare launched a broadside against the government, deviating from his limited demand for a stronger Lokpal Bill and calling for 'comprehensive change' .
As he launched on a discourse on politics and the 'voice of the people' , Hazare touched up on issues such as land acquisition, tribal rights, development, environment degradation and strengthening democracy at the grassroots. "My hunger strike will begin tomorrow . This fight started over the Jan Lokpal bill. This is going to be a long fight. Lokpal Bill will be enacted . There is no doubt about that. The struggle for a comprehensive change will be much longer. We have to fight for the change that will benefit the nation," Hazare said. Hazare said many of India's citizens still did not enjoy independence .
"When tribals fighting for their land and livelihood are beaten and shot at, do they enjoy independence ?" he asked. "Are we seeing development or degradation? We are seeing the degradation of environment and humanity," Hazare said. Hazare responded to the prime minister's remark earlier in the day that the Lokpal Bill was now with the Parliament and that the body was supreme.
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Hazare, who is scheduled to start an indefinite hunger strike on Tuesday, subsequently addressed a media conference that the campaign chose to call "Anna's address to the nation" . The contrast to the Prime Minister's address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort earlier in the day was unmistakable. Hazare launched a broadside against the government, deviating from his limited demand for a stronger Lokpal Bill and calling for 'comprehensive change' .
As he launched on a discourse on politics and the 'voice of the people' , Hazare touched up on issues such as land acquisition, tribal rights, development, environment degradation and strengthening democracy at the grassroots. "My hunger strike will begin tomorrow . This fight started over the Jan Lokpal bill. This is going to be a long fight. Lokpal Bill will be enacted . There is no doubt about that. The struggle for a comprehensive change will be much longer. We have to fight for the change that will benefit the nation," Hazare said. Hazare said many of India's citizens still did not enjoy independence .
"When tribals fighting for their land and livelihood are beaten and shot at, do they enjoy independence ?" he asked. "Are we seeing development or degradation? We are seeing the degradation of environment and humanity," Hazare said. Hazare responded to the prime minister's remark earlier in the day that the Lokpal Bill was now with the Parliament and that the body was supreme.
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