Gandhians on an indefinite hunger strike to fight corruption

Aggrieved at the failure of successive governments to curb corruption, five senior citizens launched a fast-unto-death in the capital on Sunday.

Their dream is Utopian — a corruption free country — and their demands: appointment of an effective lokpal, disqualification of election candidates with criminal backgrounds and seizure of properties illegally acquired by corrupt public servants and politicians.

Shambhu Nath Dutta, 93, who took part in the 1942 Quit India Movement, said, “Even after independence of 63 years, the situation hasn’t changed. In fact, it’s been deteriorating. But the government is not ready to do anything. 

“Candidates participating in elections always spend more than the prescribed limit, but nobody asks them where the money comes from. I think if the government meets our demands, problems of every citizen will be solved.”

RS Devi, 84, said, “I am optimistic the government will listen to our demands and do something to weed out corruption.”

Youngest among the fasters, E James Rajasekaran, 51, said, “Not a single party has the courage to come forward and support us.” 

But prominent people from different walks of life did walk from Ramlila Maidan to Jantar Mantar to support the fasting seniors, who also include social activists Amar Nath Khanna, 89, and Murari Lal Gupta, 90.

Among those who walked in their support were former IPS Kiran Bedi, RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal, Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Swami Agnivesh and lawyers Prashant and Shanti Bhushan and Fali S Nariman.