Social activist Anna Hazare on Friday began an indefinite hunger strike against the Centre in Delhi today, nearly seven years after his anti-corruption movement caught the imagination of millions of Indians and shook the then UPA government.

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Speaking to media, Anna said that 80% corruption can be erased with Lokpal bill. But, politicians do not want the corruption to end. "They did not implement Lokpal, but weakened it," he said.

Hazare has also accused the government of creating hurdles to stall his "satyagraha" protest in the capital.

"You cancelled trains carrying protesters to Delhi, you want to push them to violence. Police Force deployed for me as well. I wrote in many letters that I don't need police protection. Your protection won't save me. This sly attitude of the government is not done," Hazare said.

The venue of his protest is the same iconic Ramlila Maidan, where he had sat on a hunger strike in 2011 demanding that the then government set up a Lokpal to investigate cases of corruption.

This time, however, his target is expected to be the Narendra Modi-led BJP government.

Hazare has been pressing for setting up of the Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in the states, besides implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report, which has suggested ways to address the agrarian distress.

Hazare previously has accused the Union government of not appointing the Lokpal to investigate the cases of corruption, despite having a law in place.

The 2011 anti-graft agitation by Hazare, which aimed at the increasing corruption cases that had surfaced during the UPA rule, had received the support of millions of people across the country.

Some of the main organisers behind that anti-corruption movement later formed the Aam Aadmi Party, which now governs Delhi. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was one of Hazare's key aides.

(With agency inputs)