Beginning Tuesday, for the next three days, Parliament would discuss, debate and probably also vote on the government’s Lokpal Bill which was introduced in Lok Sabha last week.
While at MMRDA Ground at suburban Bandra-Kurla Complex, social activist Anna Hazare will be sitting on his latest round of fast, this time for three days. And beginning December 30 till January 1, Team Anna will hold ‘jail bharo aandolan’ if Parliament fails to pass a strong and effective Lokpal Bill.
However, a day prior to the fast there’s concern about Hazare’s health. The Gandhian has been suffering from viral fever for the past two days. While doctors have said the Lokpal campaigner is okay, a final go ahead for fast is likely to be given only tomorrow.
Hazare, who is currently at his native village Ralegan Siddhi, will be reaching Mumbai today. Doctors have however advised him not to undertake travel, especially road journey.
"Anna will leave Ralegan Siddhi on Monday at 1 pm for Mumbai by road. On the way he would visit Sant Dnyaneshwar Samadhi at Alandi near Pune. He will later reach Mumbai and halt at the state government guest house near the Sea-Link in Bandra," his associate Datta Awari said.
"Anna has cough and cold. However, there is no reason to worry. He is taking medicines. There is no cause for concern," Hazare's aide Suresh Pathare told reporters.
However, when asked by reporters Pathare said he personally and residents of Ralegan Siddhi feel Hazare should not sit on fast as he is not well and also three fasts (the first two being at Jantar Mantar in April and at Ramlila Maidan in August) in a year are too much.
In Mumbai, the 48,000 square metres Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) Ground has a capacity to accommodate over 60,000 people. However, it will be renting out 20,000 square metres for the rally and 10,000 square metres for parking.
MMRDA has specified December 26 for pandal erection and December 30 for its removal. Team Anna has paid Rs 7.78 lakh as rent and Rs 5.29 lakh as security deposit for the rally.
Preparations for the event are in full swing. IAC sources said that at the venue, a room attached with toilet will be provided to Hazare, along with a cot and continuous supply of hot water.
"There will be an invitee room for the core committee members and a visitors' room. There will be separate rooms for security, medical and police personnel. Ambulance services will be present 24 hours a day.
"A team of doctors, comprising volunteers, will be present. We will have an information centre, a media room and a registration counter," IAC coordinator Mayank Gandhi said.
The Mumbai police will be deploying 2,000 men in two shifts from December 27 for Hazare’s hunger strike. Apart from the policemen, there will be SRPF and Quick Response Team personnel to handle the crowd.
Team Anna will also provide 1,000 volunteers to the Mumbai police to manage the crowd and to maintain the peace.
Hazare and key members of his team, Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi, are scheduled to fast with him in Mumbai, while some others will undertake the fast in Delhi.
During the press meet at Ralegan Siddhi on Sunday, Anna Hazare said he would stage dharna outside residences of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi after his three-day fast in Mumbai and asked his supporters to refrain from violence during the stir.
"Some people are waiting for violence during the agitation. If there is violence, the agitation will be maligned," Hazare said addressing a "gram sabha" in the village.
"During the agitation in Delhi, we have prepared ourselves to receive lathi blows if the government resorts to cane charge," he added.
No comments:
Post a Comment