Anna calls off fast after talks with CM
Hazare, 81, had started his indefinite fast on January 30 over appointment of anti-corruption watchdogs.
Mumbai: Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare called off his indefinite fast on Tuesday as chief minister Devendra Fadnavis agreed to accept all his demands.
“Offering autonomous stature to the Commi-ssion for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) at the state and Centre level, tabling of the Lokayukta bill in the next Assembly session of Maharashtra and abiding by the SC timeframe through a joint committee for Lokpal were the three demands for which I had started my agitation. I am satisfied with the assurances given to me by the government now and so am calling off my fast,” he said.
Mr Hazare, 81, had started his indefinite fast on January 30 over appointment of anti-corruption watchdogs.
After marathon talks with Mr Fadnavis and the ministers, which stret-ched to over two hours, Mr Hazare announced that he is ‘satisfied’ with the outcome of the discussions.
Mr Hazare held talks with Mr Fadnavis, Union agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh, Union minister of state for defence Subhash Bhamre and state water resources minister Girish Mahajan.
“Mr Hazare’s close aide Sonpal Shastri will be one of the members of a committee which will be formed under the chairmanship of Radha Mohan Singh. It will complete its report by October this year for offering autonomous status to CACP, Mr Fadnavis said.
The search committee for Lokpal will meet on February 13 and will take further decisions as per the Supreme Court orde-rs, Mr Fadnavis added.
Mr Hazare has sought the appointment of a Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in states where such statutory anti-corruption watchdogs do not exist. He has also been demanding implementation of the Swaminathan Commis-sion recommendations on ways to address agrarian distress, besides electoral reforms.