Anna Hazare ends hunger strike after Fadnavis promises action on demands
Social activist Anna Hazare ended his indefinite hunger strike on the seventh day on Friday, after the Centre said that steps would soon be taken to ensure a Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in the states.
The government’s assurances were conveyed to Hazare by Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and Union minister of state for agriculture Gajendra Shekhawat who met the social activist at the Ramlila Maidan. Hazare said the ministers assured him that the Centre has taken positive decisions on the demands.
Hazare, who led a 12-day antigraft fast seven years ago, was back in Ramlila Maidan on March 23 to launch an indefinite hunger strike for the rights of the farmers and electoral reforms, and against the dilution of the Lokpal bill. The fresh agitation did not pull in the kind of crowds his stir drew in 2011. Around 3,000 people attended on the first day, and the crowds thinned since.
Though the hunger strike was called off, Hazare said that he would be back in September if the government did not act on its assurances. “The government has assured us they will make the appointments (of Lokpal and Lokayukta) as soon as possible. I will see till August... (Though) Maharashtra CM Fadnavis said it will not even take six months, we will see,” Hazare told PTI.
In a seven-page letter signed by minister of state Jitender Singh, assurances were given on multiple demands. A man, who identified himself as Rajkumar Saini, hurled a shoe towards the stage where Hazare, Fadnavis and Shekhawat were present.