Remain united in the fight against graft: Anna

Anna Hazare, the veteran social activist and Gandhian, has called for the citizens of India to remain united in the fight against corruption and to not pay any heed to rumours which are aimed at creating a divide.

In an open letter addressed to the citizens of India, Hazare cautioned that some power were trying to break the unity shown in the fight against corruption.

Below is the full text of Anna Hazare's letter:

My dear fellow citizens,

I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to each one of you for your overwhelming support for the Jan Lokpal movement, making the Tantra (the System) appreciate the power of the Lok (the People) as is befitting the world’s largest and greatest Loktantra (democracy).

Our victory so far over corruption, falsehood, injustice, and oppression is indisputable and unprecedented. But it is also clearly evident that there is handful of people who are already active trying to create schisms in this great coming together of all sections of our society to fight for a corruption-free future. This handful of people wants to break up our collective power and try to create discord.

One way for them to try to break up our collective power is to spread disinformation and rake up issues that will distract attention from the fight against corruption towards individuals and extraneous matters.

It is important that we are able to see through their designs. We need to not only frustrate their plans but also keep our collective enthusiasm at a level that must keep rising.

Our victory so far bears out that we have chosen the right and noble way forward for our country, but our destination is way ahead. We cannot afford to dissipate our energies on arguing over non-issues and quarreling with disinformation campaigns undertaken by the people who see an effective Lokpal as a grave threat to their interests.

I consider myself, Anna Hazare, a non-entity. In the history of a great nation and civilization, many Anna Hazares come and go. However, some of the crucial junctures of the history demand that we live up to our national values and ideals; not living up to those values and ideals is like a living death. That’s what I have learnt from the father of our great nation.

My indefinite fast was not aimed at getting the government or an individual to fulfill a wayward and irresponsible demand; it was meant to be a Satyagraha of the people of India to liberate ourselves from a monstrously corrupt system of governance.

The youth who are devoting some of the most beautiful phase of their lives on this movement for corruption-free India are our force. The mothers and sisters who lit candles at public places are our light. The sweating foot soldiers of this movement who throw their hands skywards and shout the inspiring slogans are our energy. The Indians who have seen a ray of hope in this movement for a better future will also be the dreamers who will envision a fairer and nobler India.

The handful of people who have allowed themselves to be led astray by corruption and injustice will find the right path. That’s our hope.

I appeal to each Indian to keep our unity in this fight against corruption. Each one of us makes up the India, the entire India. So each one of us matter in this struggle to make our government clean and serve our collective interests.

I am hopeful that this movement will help clean up and strengthen all our democratic institutions.

I appeal to you not to pay attention to disinformation and distractive campaigns.

I pray to the Almighty God to give us strength to keep our unity and integrity.

May God bless us all!

Yours affectionately,

Anna Hazare

13th April 2011