Anna Hazare launches hunger strike

Mumbai: Ignoring the Maharas-htra government's pleas, social activist Anna Hazare began a hunger strike on Wednesday over 'non-fulfilment' of assurances by the Centre and the Maharashtra government on the appointment of Lokpal and passage of the Lokayukta Act in the state.

Mr Hazare offered prayers at the Padmavati Temple in his village Ralegan Siddhi in Ahmednagar district in the morning. He then went in a procession, accompanied by students, youths and farmers, to the Yadavbaba Temple and sat near it to begin his hunger strike.

Though he welcomed the state Cabinet's decision to bring the office of state chief minister under the jurisdiction of Lokayukta, he vowed to continue the agitation.

"The strike will continue till the government fulfils promises it made before coming to power about the passage of Lokayukta Act and appointment of a Lokpal and to tackle farmers' issues," he said.

Water resources minister Girish Mahajan, who has been acting as an emissary between the government and Mr Hazare, on Tuesday had urged the activist to cancel the agitation, claiming that almost all the demands made by him were fulfilled.

Apart from the appointment of a Lokpal at the national level and Lokayukta in states, Mr Hazare has been demanding implementation of the Swaminathan Commission recommendations for alleviating farmer distress and some electoral reforms.

The activist had written a letter to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday, saying he would launch the agitation in his village from Wednesday. "It has been five years since the Lokpal Act was passed. Yet the Narendra Modi government has not appointed a Lokpal. The Lokayukta Act has also not been passed in Maharashtra for four years," Mr Hazare said in his letter.

The Fadnavis Cabinet had on Tuesday decided to bring the office of chief minister under the jurisdiction of Lokayukta. Mr Hazare had welcomed the government's decision to set rolling the process to appoint Lokayukta. "I thank them on behalf of the people for taking the decision towards appointment of Lokayukta through a constitutional process. But, that does not mean I will not stage hunger strike. The agitation will go on until the Act is in place," he had said.