CHENNAI: Hundreds took to the streets on Sunday for a one-day token fast in support of social activist Anna Hazare’s demand for a stronger Lokpal. People from diverse backgrounds including IT professionals, white collar employees, school and college students participated in the fast held at Koyambedu. “Standing committee and the Government of India have purposefully broken all the promises made to the nation,” says Shivakumar, an IT staff who participated. “The Lokpal Bill to be put before Parliament is so weak that again, the citizens will be left with a toothless institution,” he said. Volunteers of the India Against Corruption’s Chennai Chapter raised demands for the Prime Minister to be brought under the ambit of Lokpal. Exclusion of Group C and D staff and CBI from the jurisdiction of Lokpal, lack of any mention of the criminal investigation of corruption against judges in the Judiciary Accountability Bill and Whistle Blowers protection given to Central Vigilance Commission and not to Lokpal, were the major irritants in the Bill for the IAC. “There are too many weak points,” says Savithri, another participant. “For instance, the grievance redress is proposed to be addressed by another Bill which is ineffective,” she said. “I was told that if graft is eradicated, all the free schemes would reach us without glitches. I only hope that this materialises so that poor students can have a bright future,” said a student of Siragu Montessori residential school for poor children, near Avadi. Carnatic singers and orators kept the participants entertained.
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