2012 Indian anti-corruption movement

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2012 Indian anti-corruption movement
Date 25 March 2012 – 26 November 2012
Location India
Causes
Goals Jan Lokpal Bill/The Lokpal Bill, 2011 enactment & Political opportunism
Methods Non violent protest
Result Team Anna split and India Against Corruption forming Aam Aadmi Party(Political opportunism)
Enactment of The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013

The 2012 Indian anti-corruption movement was a series of demonstrations and protests across India intended to establish strong legislation and enforcement against perceived endemic political corruption.[5] It was a revival of the 2011 Indian anti-corruption movement, which had ended on the last day of the winter session of the Rajya Sabha. The movement restarted with an initial mass gathering at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi on 25 March 2012.[6][7]

Background[edit]

The 2011 Indian anti-corruption movement continued into 2012. The figurehead was Anna Hazare, a social activist after whom Team Anna was named. One of the movement's main demands was the passing of legislation enabling an anti-corruption and enforcement ombudsman. Attempts to introduce some form of legislation, even though weaker than that demanded by the activists, had timed-out with the end of the parliamentary session on 27 December 2011.[8][9] The government reintroduced the bill in the Rajya Sabha in February 2012 but the bill was not timetabled for debate and the session ended without this bill being passed.[citation needed]

Protests[edit]

Hazare declared that the protest movement would recommence and a mark of protest he sat on hunger strike on 25 March 2012 for one day.[8] A month later, Hazare sat a token one-day fast focussed on remembrance of whistle-blowers such as Narendra Kumar and Satyendra Dubey who had died as a result of their support for the anti-corruption cause.[10] On 3 June, Hazare undertook another one-day fast at Jantar Mantar, where he was joined by Ramdev, a yoga guru.[11]

Hazare and Bedi reformed Team Anna, while Kejriwal and some others split from the erstwhile apolitical movement with the intention of forming what was to become the Aam Aadmi Party.[12]

Jantar Mantar was the scene of an "indefinite" fast that began on 25 July and involved various members of Team Anna,[13] although Hazare was not involved until four days later. The focus on this occasion was a protest against the government's refusal of an inquiry against the prime minister and 14 cabinet ministers, whom they had accused of corruption.[citation needed] The fast ended on 3 August.[14] Three days later, Hazare announced that since the government seemed to be unready to enact the Jan Lokpal Bill, he and his fellow activists had decided to end their fast, to discontinue talks with the government and to cease any protests under the Team Anna name.[15]

Aftermath[edit]

After failing to press government to pass The Lokpal Bill, 2011, the Team Anna split on issue of formation of political party. Anna Hazare and some others did not want to enter mainstream politics while Arvind Kejriwal led India Against Corruption opined to join politics.[16][17] Arvind Kejriwal and others finally formed new political party, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on 26 November 2012.[18][19][20] A year later, the party made its electoral debut in the 2013 Delhi legislative assembly election held in December 2013.[21] It emerged as the second-largest party, winning 28 of the 70 seats.[22] With no party obtaining an overall majority, the AAP formed a minority government with conditional support from the Indian National Congress.[23] The AAP failed to pass Jan Lokpal Bill in Delhi assembly and resigned from the government after rule of 49 days.[24] The President's rule imposed in the state for a year.[25]

The Parliament of India enacted The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 few days after the Delhi election in December 2013.[26]

See also[edit]

Anti-corruption:

General:

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d MANU JOSEPH (17 August 2011). "India's Selective Rage Over Corruption". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 January 2011. 
  2. ^ a b c d e Anupama Jha (1 Jul 2010). "India's poor most subjected to corruption — Transparency International". Reuters. Retrieved 29 January 2011. 
  3. ^ Nelson, Dean (16 Mar 2011). "Indian politicians 'bought votes with cash tucked inside newspapers'". The Telegraph (London). 
  4. ^ Leah Hyslop and AFP (3 Jun 2010). "Red tape in India causes problems for expats". London: The Telegraph. Retrieved 22 August 2011. 
  5. ^ Choudhury, Chandrahas (22 June 2011), Indians Divide Over Policing a Watchdog: World View, bloomberg.com, retrieved 25 August 2011 
  6. ^ "Anna's Fast on 25-March-2012". 
  7. ^ "Anna Hazare to fast on 25-March-2012". 
  8. ^ a b Lokpal Bill: Anna Hazare defers fast to Mar 25
  9. ^ No vote on Lokpal, Rajya Sabha adjourns abruptly
  10. ^ Anna Hazare to protest at Jantar Mantar on March 25 - Politics News - IBNLive
  11. ^ Anna Hazare, Baba Ramdev to fast on June 3 | NDTV.com
  12. ^ http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/what-is-the-aam-aadmi-party-all-about/1/234564.html
  13. ^ Team Anna to indefinite fast from 25-July-2012, Anna joining on 29 July 2012
  14. ^ "India Against Corruption: Team Anna breaks fast, to form party for 'cleaning system'". The Times Of India. 3 August 2012. 
  15. ^ "Anna Hazare disbands ‘Team Anna’". 6 August 2012. 
  16. ^ Jadhav, Radheshyam; Dastane, Sarang (19 September 2012). "Anna Hazare confirms rift with Arvind Kejriwal, says his apolitical mass movement will continue". Times of India. Retrieved 3 August 2013. 
  17. ^ Sreelatha Menon (22 September 2012). "India Against Corruption assets caught in tug of war". Business Standard. 
  18. ^ "Arvind Kejriwal formally launches Aam Aadmi Party". India Today. Retrieved 26 November 2012. 
  19. ^ "Anna Hazare tells Arvind Kejriwal not to use his name, photo for votes as they part ways". New Delhi: India Today. PTI. 19 September 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2013. 
  20. ^ "So what is the Aam Aadmi Party all about". New Delhi: India Today. 24 November 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2013. 
  21. ^ "Aam Aadmi Party gets broom as election symbol". IBN Live. 31 July 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2013. 
  22. ^ "Assembly Elections December 2013 Results". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 12 December 2013. 
  23. ^ "Arvind Kejriwal becomes Delhi's youngest Chief Minister". IBN. 28 December 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2013. 
  24. ^ Ali, Mohammad; Kant, Vishal; Ashok, Sowmiya (15 February 2014). "Arvind Kejriwal quits over Jan Lokpal". The Hindu. 
  25. ^ President's rule imposed in Delhi
  26. ^ Economic Times (18 December 2013). "Lokpal Bill passed in Lok Sabha". Economic Times. Retrieved 18 December 2013.