Anna Hazare to sit on yet another hunger strike demanding Jan Lokpal

The fight for Lokpal has entered its final stages. Veteran social activist and anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare is again set to sit on a hunger strike, but this time not in the capital of India or economic capital Mumbai, but in his village Ralegan Siddhi in Ahmednagar district. Anna Hazare, who has been fighting for Jan Lokpal bill since 2011, is aiming to succeed finally having only received assurance after assurance. 

Anna Hazare said, "This year on 23rd march, I sat on hunger strike in Delhi. They gave me written assurance but even after 6 months, they did not keep their words. So, I have decided to sit on a fast again but this time in my village Ralegan Siddhi for the demand of appointing Lokpal in centre and lokayukt in state governments. Anna will sit on fast from  2nd October, which is the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi." 

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had sent his close confident minister Girish Mahajan to meet Anna at Ralegan Siddhi village to convince him to not to sit on the fast. Girish Mahajan twice visited Ralegan Siddhi, but in both the meeting, Anna Hazare refuse to accept government’s request to not to sit on a hunger strike.

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Anna Hazare further added, "Now the government has formed a search committee but when will they appoint Lokpal? Government should answer this to the people of our country. Four and half years have already been passed. If some more years get wasted then what is the use of it? That's why from 2nd October I will sit on a hunger strike."      

Anna Hazare had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying his government had come into power because of the Lokpal andolan (agitation) but even after 4 years, the government has not yet appointed a lokayukt. Anna also complained that farmers are not getting the right price of their produce due to which they are committing suicide.   

To build pressure on the government for appointment of Lokpal, Anna will sit on a fast in Ralegan Siddhi and his supports will sit on a fast in different parts of the country including Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana. 

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