BeyondHeadlines News Desk
New Delhi: The fast-unto-death pledge by Anna Hazare against corruption in India has not only woken up Indians but also grabbed the world’s attention.
The Anna Hazare phenomenon is not only widely covered by Indian media but also by the foreign newspapers. The non-violent method adopted by the 72-year-old activist to lead his anti-corruption crusader has earned him the tag of “modern-day Mahatma.”
Right from Anna Hazare’s fast to demonstrations supporting him, the international media has been covering all aspects of the anti-corruption campaign.
The Guardian notes, “Hunger strikes, which invoke the memory of those undertaken by Mahatma Gandhi, are popular political tactics in India…However, this most recent campaign against corruption has mobilised millions of Indians.”
“The wealthy and powerful in India usually escape any charges against them or succeed in drawing out the legal process for many years, sometimes decades,” said an article on Anna Hazare’s refusal to end hunger strike.
The Wall Street Journal reported on the tweets supporting Anna Hazare on social media site Twitter.
“Corruption scandals have rocked the country in the past few months leading to a general mood of hopelessness,” assesses Channel News Asia. India ranked 87th out of 178 countries in the 2010 Corruption Perceptions Index conducted by Transparency International.
Anna Hazare is on the fourth day of his fast to pressure the government to enact strong anti-corruption laws.