Anna to launch protest for Lokpal from Mar.23

New Delhi: Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare upset over the non-appointment of Lokpal since the last four years announced that he would launch a protest from Mar.23, observed as Martyrs’ Day, next year. Addressing a press conference here yesterday, the octogenarian accused the BJP-led Central Government of not being serious in fighting corruption. He charged that both BJP and Congress were pro-industrialists and anti-farmer. “The recent amendments in the Lokpal Act, which removed a clause that made public servants declaring their assets compulsory, reflected the Government’s intention in fighting corruption,” said Hazare. It may be recalled that Hazare had called for a fight against corruption in 2011 against the Congress-led UPA Government, which had the whole nation rooting for him. Subsequently, Congress was decimated in the 2014 general elections. According to Hazare, he had written over 30 letters to the NDA Government, but he had not received any response to any of them so far. He wondered if any “ego” was involved in not responding to his letters,  which questioned the non-appointment of Lokpal.