Anna to begin indefinite fast for Lokpal in Ralegan Siddhi today

Ralegan Siddhi: Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare will once again go on an indefinite fast in his village of Ralegan Siddhi for the Jan Lokpal Bill from Tuesday. He has accused the Centre of betraying him and not fulfilling its promise of bringing in the Jan Lokpal Bill.

Anna on Monday reiterated that the Jan Lokpal Bill must be passed in Parliament this winter session. "In this winter session of Parliament, the government must bring the Jan Lokpal Bill and for this, we are going to sit on a fast," Anna said.

Anna will launch indefinite hunger strike for a strong Lokpal Bill, at Yadavbaba temple in Ralegan Siddhi. He has asked the Centre to "show courage" in bringing in the Bill in the winter session of Parliament. He had written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, expressing displeasure over the Central government's failure to bring in the anti-graft legislation.

In his reply to Anna's letter, MoS PMO V Narayanasamy mentioned various steps taken by the government to bring in the Lokpal Bill. Hazare said he had received Narayanasamy's letter last week.

Expressing his displeasure over the government's efforts, Anna said, "the correspondence has been going on for last two years but without any result. Earlier, the Centre assured that the bill will be presented in Budget session of Parliament. The selection committee had passed it on Nov 23, 2012, but nothing happened even in the monsoon session also". "...Now, the nation wants result and not the reason and that is why I will be observing hunger strike," the septuagenarian said.

Anna informed the agitation will be held in Ralegan Siddhi and not at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi. He also appealed to people to exert pressure on government through non-violent ways for the passage of the Bill.

The Centre had passed the Lokpal Bill in Lok Sabha, bowing to the public pressure in the wake of Jan Lokpal agitation in 2011. Rajya Sabha is yet to pass the bill. Hazare had said the Bill, passed by Lok Sabha, was at variance with the draft Jan Lokpal Bill.

(With additional information from PTI)