Police mum on Anna Hazare request for fast

Gandhian Anna Hazare Monday said police has not indicated whether or not he can hold a hunger strike against corruption at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi from August 16.

"We sent an application to the police commissioner seeking permission for the fast but have got no response. There has been no formal letter denying us permission, from anyone," Hazare said.

Hazare's team member and activist Arvind Kejriwal added: "Until now we have not got any rejection letter. They (police) asked for clarifications, we gave them. As of now we are going ahead with our fast."

Delhi Police on Thursday said prohibitory orders banning any gathering of five or more people will be imposed in places of Delhi, including Jantar Mantar area, during the monsoon session of parliament that began Monday.

The curbs were on Friday withdrawn from Jantar Mantar and India Gate areas.

"If they don't let us sit on fast, I will go to jail," Hazare said. "This is India's second struggle for freedom and I will fight against corruption till my last breath."

Dissatisfied with the government version of the anti-graft Lokpal bill, Hazare has decided to go on fast from Aug 16.

The anti-corruption crusader went on a 97-hour fast in April at Jantar Mantar demanding a strong anti-graft Lokpal bill.

He also sat on a one-day token fast June 8 at Rajghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, to denounce the police crackdown on yoga guru Baba Ramdev's anti-corruption protest in June.