Anna Hazare: away from the din, preparing for Sunday

It is a desolate house in Noida. Away from all the landmarks one knows. Far from the consuming urban noise. The nearest flyover has been thrown open to the public a month ago. The road to the house has no tarmac. Three policemen guard the structure. Inside, the man who has redefined street protest in India, is preparing for the next round of battle.

Kisan Baburao Hazare is rolling beads. On the table near his bed, rest two books – recent additions to numerous works on Lokpal movement produced by famous and trying to be famous authors.

‘India Against Corruption’ member and Anna’s only companion in the house, Manish Sisodia, picks one of the two books, moves closer to Anna and talks in his right ear. “This one has beautifully captured the entire movement. If one wants to know about the issue, he should go through this one,” says Sisodia as Anna listens with his eye brows shrunk. “I will talk to people in Ralegaon Siddhi and let you know if we can order copies of this one,” says Anna , who has been staying in Noida house for more than a week to finalise the strategy for his one day fast on March 25 at Jantar Mantar, Delhi.

All major and minor decisions regarding the demonstration which need Anna’s consent, are conveyed to him, here. He inquires about each and every aspect of the issue and gives his opinion, says Sisodia. Rest of the time, he is meditating - a reason why he chose a secluded house in a discreet location for a week long stay over Maharasthtra Sadan- situated in central Delhi where he stayed on most of his previous visits to the national capital.

My request for a brief interview about the upcoming protest is politely declined. “My blood pressure is high. I feel head ache if I talk much,” Anna says.

The one day fast on Sunday at Jantar Mantar will be about the Jan Lokpal Bill in general and the clauses which talk of protection given to whisteblowers in particular.

For the first time, the social activist will be joined by the families of slain whistleblowers including that of Narendra Kumar, IPS officer who was killed on March 6 allegedly by the mining mafia of Madhya Pradesh. “Family members of 12 such activists have confirmed participation,” says an IAC member. Anna held a three-day demonstration in Madhya Pradesh on the issue.

“Under the government’s version of Lokpal bill, central vigilance commission deals with complaints given by the whistleblower. We want the Lokpal office to deal with such complaints,’ says Sisodia. “This is the government’s last chance to give us a strong Lokpal. Even now if they don’t budge, they would have to face people’s wrath,’ he adds.

The challenge is to make sure that Sunday’s fast does not become a repeat of the December 27 fast in Mumbai which was declared a no-show.

For the past fortnight, theatre group ‘Asmita’ has been conducting street plays on the issue.

A volunteer says that his team of 25 has distributed more than five lakh pamphlets in Delhi and its satellite towns to mobilise masses. “Where governments have breached trust of people and the temples of democracy are occupied by the tainted and corrupt, we need to stand and fight together,” reads the pamphlet.

Members of the team’s core committee including Manish Sisodia, Arvind Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan, Kiran Bedi along with former Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde are expected to participate in the protest on 25th.