MUMBAI: Social activist Anna Hazare's hunger strike entered the second day on Thursday as he remained firm about his demand for appointment of an anti-corruption watchdog at the Centre and in Maharashtra and resolution of farmers’ issues.
A bandh was also observed by locals in Mr Hazare's native village, Ralegan Siddhi, in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district in support of his demands.
Mr Hazare is on a hunger strike in his village since Wednesday to protest the “non-fulfillment” of assurances by the Centre and state government with regard to appointment of Lokpal and passage of the Lokayukta Act in the state.
The 81-year-old Army man-turned-activist has also been demanding appointment of Lokayuktas in states where such statutory anti-corruption watchdogs do not exist. He has been demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission recommendations on ways to address the agrarian distress, besides some electoral reforms. Locals of Ralegan Siddhi village Thursday issued a statement to a local tehsildar, as an official representative of the state government, to look into Hazare's demands. Doctors conducted a check-up of Hazare and asked his caretakers to monitor the activist's condition closely. “He is over 80 years old. He needs to be looked after,” the doctors told Mr Hazare's close aides.
Mr Hazare had declined to meet state government envoy and minister Girish Mahajan for talks over his demands. However, the minister said Wednesday that talks were going on with Mr Hazare and his supporters.
