Anna Hazare on Tuesday began his indefinite fast at his village in Maharashtra to press for immediate passage of Jan Lokpal Bill in the parliament even as Government said it was serious about getting the anti- graft measure passed in the current session itself.

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

However, the event was far from what it used to be when held at the Ramlila Maidan in the national capital. Village sarpanch Jaysing Mapari, former sarpanch Ganpatrao Auti, trustee Vishwambhar Choudhary, Sufi Jilani, Santosh Bharati, Pathare and several others gathered at Ralegan Siddhi but could not evoke much of a response.

Local school children held a rally in Anna’s support and banners were put up at various places.

Anna generally sits for his fast inside the Yadavbaba Temple but this time in order to make it a mega event, a huge pandal has been put up.

Accusing Congress of ‘betrayal’, 76-year-old Hazare said it should understand the reality after the drubbing it received in the just-concluded assembly elections in four states and ensure the passage of the Lokpal Bill immediately.

It is for the fourth time that Hazare is going on a hunger strike in the last three years in support of the Jan Lokpal Bill.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that Kiran Bedi would be visit Ralegan Siddhi and call on Anna on Wednesday morning.

Apparently rattled by the fledgling Aam Aadmi Party’s spectacular performance in Delhi polls, Government said it was serious about passing the Bill in the current session of the parliament.

— With Agency inputs