The Free Press Journal

Govt’s draft is useless, will continue fast: Anna Hazare

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The indefinite hunger strike by social activist Anna Hazare is set to continue further after he reportedly found the draft sent by the government to address to his demands "useless". "We have received the draft from the government. But Annaji said it was useless as it has nothing new but old assurances. It is a routine document. At least, any minister should meet him," said Sushil Bhatt, a core committee member of Team Anna.

Hazare had on Friday said he would hold discussion­s with the government during the agitation but his "Satyagraha" of an indefinite hunger strike would continue "till the government comes out with a concrete action plan".

The second day of the agitation witnessed steady flow of people coming to iconic the Ramlila Maidan but majority of them were farmers while the middle class who displayed their anger during 2011 protest was found somewhat missing.

Protesters on Saturday were largely from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab with some from Maharashtr­a, and Rajasthan. The number will go up substantia­lly on Sunday, said Bhatt. Narendra Patil, son of Maharashtr­a farmer Dharma Patil, who had committed suicide by consuming poison

in the state secretaria­t in January this year, also participat­ed in the agitation saying the government had not given the long-pending compensati­on even after the death of his father. "Even after giving assurance in writing, Maharashtr­a government has not fulfilled the promises it made to us after the death of my father. It is cheating. I have decided to join the agitation to bolster farmers' voice as the current dispensati­on is anti-farmer," Patil said.

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