Social activist Anna Hazare, who has been holding an indefinite strike in Ramlila Ground in Delhi for nearly a week demanding setting up of a Lokpal at the Centre, broke his fast on Thursday after a meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Ironically this action of Anna shattered homebuyers of Delhi-NCR region who were expecting him to come to their aid.
Thousands of homebuyers from Gautam Budh Nagar and other parts of NCR had reached Ramlila Ground to support Anna’s fight against corruption. Anna has been demanding setting up of an independent body such as Lokpal that would probe corruption at high places. The home buyers, who have been at the receiving end as they have not been getting flats even after making substantial payments are accusing politician-builder-bureaucrat nexus of corruption.
Homebuyers, however, suffered a setback since Anna withdrew his strike unexpectedly leaving them in the lurch. They had hoped that Anna would take up their cause. Sunil Singh a homebuyer complained that “we staged numerous indefinite protests before the offices of the real estate developers and politicians, but failed to achieve our objective. With the arrival of Anna we were hopeful but since he has withdrawn his fast, we are back to square one.”
Pramod Kumar, who had booked a flat with JP group, too traveled to Delhi from Greater Noida to join the protest. He told City Spidey that he doesn’t know why Anna broke his fast after meeting Maharashtra CM.
“The homebuyers had made a beeline to Anna’s protest thinking that the builders who probably felt protected by the politician-bureaucrat nexus would get scared. Our flats were delayed due to this unchecked corruption,” Kumar added.
The homebuyers are however determined to continue their fight against the builders and government authorities. “This fight will end only with the possession of flats. Supreme Court is helping the home buyers and the Interim Resolution Professional (IRP) appointed by the apex court is also helping us. The SC has emerged as the only ray of hope for flat buyers,” he added.
Kumar, who has been leading the agitating home buyers said he would meet Anna soon and ask him the reasons for ending his fast.
