India’s anti-corruption hero, Anna Hazare, ended his hunger strike Sunday after the Congress-led government caved in and accepted his key demands on creating an anticorruption ombudsman empowered to scrutinize government officials and bureaucrats.
Parliament, meeting on Saturday, the 12th day of Mr. Hazare’s hunger strike, accepted his demands in a resolution.
Mr. Hazare’s campaign had to make a little concession for the deal too.
They had demanded a public vote on the resolution so as to expose those MPs opposing the proposed powers for the ombudsman.
Instead, the resolution was read aloud in both houses of Parliament and approved by MPs thumping their desks. This allowed the decision to be declared ‘unanimous’.
“Parliament has spoken,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told Indian media on Saturday. “The will of Parliament is the will of the people.”
But at the beginning of his campaign, the government had taken a tough line, initially arresting Hazare and several thousand of his supporters in a move widely criticised as repressive and short-sighted.
On his release, Hazare promptly began his hunger strike, mobilising millions across the country in public protests of support.
NDTV reported Sunday:
“[Mr. Hazare's] supporters rejoiced through the night and across the country - celebrating the 74-year-old and his role in helping India take a huge step forward towards a historic new anti-corruption law. People poured out on the streets in spontaneous elation - the Anna cap, the tricolour were everywhere and slogans of victory rent the air.”
Mr. Hazare himself was more cautious about Saturday's agreement.
"We have won half the battle," he said to thousands of workers and supporters who helped elevate his movement to the top of the country's agenda.
In short, until the bill becomes law, their struggle continues.
