ANNA HAZARE BEGINS INDEFINITE HUNGER STRIKE FOR LOKPAL

Seven years after his anti-corruption movement that shook the then Congress-led UPA government, Anna Hazare launched an identified hunger strike against the Centre for setting up of Lokpal, at Ramlila Maidan today. Hazare had sat on a similar hunger strike in 2011 to demand the then UPA government for setting up a Lokpal to investigate corruption cases. This time, Hazare is protesting again for setting up of Lokal Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in the states, besides implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report to address the agrarian distress.

Anna visited Rajghat in the morning and marched to Shaheedi Park before coming to Ramlila Maidan where thousands of his supporters have gathered. Last month, the Gandhian accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not being interested in the appointment of the Lokpal at the Centre. The veteran anti-corruption crusader said Modi was "never serious about Lokpal".

"You (govt) 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 before launching his strike.