2011 Indian anti-corruption movement

2011 Indian anti-corruption movement
Anna Hazare's hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, on the second day of his fast
Date	4 April 2011 – 28 December 2011
Location	India
Causes	Corruption in public life Government corruption Police corruption Judicial corruption Corporate corruption Electoral fraud Red tape Discretionary powers of politician Black money
Goals	Enactment of anti-corruption legislature, Jan Lokpal Bill for ombudsman
Methods	Non violent protest
Result	Resolution passed in Parliament accepting Jan Lokpal Bill on 27 August 2011, Government again withdrawn Resolution on 22 December 2011, Government Cabinet introduced The Lokpal Bill, 2011 in the parliament but failed to pass. protests renewed in 2012 when Rajya Sabha failed to pass the Bill

External images

Images of India protests over campaigner's arrest (BBC)

Images of Indians protest the arrest of Anna Hazare (Time)

Video of Anna Hazare phenomenon (YouTube)

Indian anti-corruption campaigner, freed from jail (Guardian)

Images of Indian Anti corruption Movement (Times of India)

Corruption in public life

The Indian anti-corruption movement, commencing in 2011, was a series of demonstrations and protests across India intended to establish strong legislation and enforcement against perceived endemic political corruption. The movement was named among the "Top 10 News Stories of 2011" by Time magazine.

The movement gained momentum from 5 April 2011, when anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare began a hunger strike at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The chief legislative aim of the movement was to alleviate corruption in the Indian government through introduction of the Jan Lokpal Bill. Another aim, spearheaded by Ramdev, was the repatriation of black money from Swiss and other foreign banks.

Grievances of mass protesters focussed on legal and political issues, including political corruption, , and other forms of corruption. The movement was primarily one of non-violent civil resistance, featuring demonstrations, marches, acts of civil disobedience, hunger strikes, marches and rallies, as well as the use of social media to organise, communicate, and raise awareness. The protests were nonpartisan and most protesters were hostile to attempts made by political parties to use them to strengthen their own political agendas.

Issues regarding corruption in India have become increasingly prominent in recent years. The country was subject to socialist-inspired economic policies dating from independence in 1947 until the 1980s. Over-regulation, protectionism, and government ownership of industry led to slow economic growth, high unemployment, and widespread poverty. This system of bureaucratic control by government is called the License Raj and lies at the core of endemic corruption.

The Vohra Report of 1993, submitted by the former Indian Union Home Secretary Narinder Nath Vohra, studied the issue of the criminalisation of politics. The report contained several observations made by official agencies on the criminal network which was virtually running a parallel government. It also discussed criminal gangs who enjoyed the patronage of politicians and the protection of government functionaries. It revealed that political leaders had become leaders of street gangs and rogue elements in the military. Over the years, criminals had been elected to local bodies, State Assemblies, and the Parliament.