NEW DELHI - An Indian reform activist whose protest galvanized the nation's anger against corruption ended his 12-day hunger strike on Sunday after forcing parliament to throw its weight behind his crusade.
Seventy-four-year-old Anna Hazare accepted a cup of coconut water and honey from two children as thousands of supporters cheered him on, waving Indian flags, chanting "long live India" and singing patriotic songs.
"This is your victory. This is the fruit of your work in the last 13 days," Hazare told the crowd, filled with supporters wearing the white cloth caps, reminiscent of India's independence leaders, that have become the protest's signature.
Hazare, who was later taken to hospital, said that though he had ended his fast, he would not back down from his fight for reforms. He lost more than 7 kilograms during his fast.
"This movement has made it seem possible that we can build a corruption-free India," Hazare said, surrounded by children on a stage above the crowd.
Hazare began his fast on Aug 16 demanding parliament pass his sweeping proposal to create a powerful anti-corruption ombudsman to police everyone from the prime minister to the lowest village bureaucrat.
The protest was fueled by months of scandals, including illicit mining deals and the dubious sale of cell phone spectrum, that have tarred the ruling coalition and opposition parties alike. Even as Hazare was fasting, four politicians were charged with buying and selling votes in parliament.
The government, miscalculating the popularity of his anti-graft message, briefly arrested him to quash his protest, a move that sent tens of thousands of his angry supporters pouring into streets across the country.
Hazare, who claims inspiration from liberation icon Mohandas K. Gandhi, eventually was given access to a fairground in the capital, New Delhi, which attracted tens of thousands of protesters from India's growing middle class fed up with paying bribes for everything from getting a driver's license to enrolling a child in nursery school.
As the protest dragged on, and Hazare's weight plunged, government ministers and protest leaders haggled over how to end their standoff.
Officials said Hazare's draft bill - which would put the prime minister, judiciary and state bureaucrats under the ombudsman - was unconstitutional and branded his methods as parliamentary blackmail. The protesters complained that the government's own bill was toothless and would do nothing to battle corruption.
In the end, parliament held a nine-hour debate on Saturday that ended with a nonbinding "sense of the house" expressing support for some of his demands: committing to greater transparency and including low-level bureaucrats and state officials under the watchdog's purview.
Tags: green bags, greenbags, recyclable bags, non woven bag, non woven bags, nylon bag, cotton bag, cotton bags, messenger bag, reusable bags, bag, bags, handbag, eco bags, tote bag, paper pen, promotional, promotional gifts, promotional products, promotion products, promotional bags, promotional bag, business card, name card, shopping bags, canvas bag, calico bags, calico bag, environmental bags
没有评论:
发表评论