This will be the first hunger strike undertaken by
74-year-old Hazare after he called off his three-day fast for
a strong Lokpal Bill in Mumbai last December.
Kumar was killed by the mining mafia in Mahya Pradesh.
This will be the first hunger strike undertaken by
74-year-old Hazare after he called off his three-day fast for
a strong Lokpal Bill in Mumbai last December owing to failing
health and comes close on the heels of Congress` poor show in
the recent assembly polls in five states.
"Hazare has invited several families to be a part of
one-day fast for a stronger whistle blower protection
mechanism under the Jan Lokpal Bill, and owing to the short
notice for the participants, the event that was going to be
held of March 18 earlier, will now be held on March 25," a
statement said.
"At least 15 people, who tried to blow lid of the
corruption scams or fought the menace in other ways, have been
killed since 2010. These gory killings have brought to fore
the need for a strong whistle-blowers protection system, under
control of Jan Lokpal and Jan Lokayukta," it said.
During the Assembly elections, Team Anna had campaigned
for a strong Lokpal though it had not supported any single
party. However, Congress leaders had claimed that the tone and
tenor of their campaign was anti-Congress.
In the statement, Team Anna said, while the Jan Lokpal
ensures security to the whistle blowers, the proposed bill on
the issue floated by the UPA government is "inadequate and
gives the responsibilities without powers to CVC".
"The CVC is a designated authority to receive complaints
and to ensure adequate protection to the whistleblowers under
the Public Interest Disclosure and Protection of Informers
Resolution (PIDPI).
"One of the limitations faced by the Commission under the
resolution is that the Commission has not been provided with
enforcement powers nor has it been made mandatory for the
administrative authorities to comply with CVC`s directives to
protect whistleblowers from harassment," it said.
PTI
