Hazare breaks 7-day-old fast after talks with CM

After a seven-hour marathon closed-door meeting with CM Fadnavis and the assurance from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), anti-graft activist Anna Hazare on Tuesday called off his week-long fast. PMO assured him of the appointment of Lokpal and also assured to resolve farmers' issues.

Union Agriculture Minister Radhe Mohan Singh and Union Minister of State for Sefence Subhash Bhamre also participated in the discussions at Hazare's Ralegaon-Siddhi village.

After the meeting, Fadnavis requested Hazare to break his fast, which the activist did by accepting a glass of sherbet from the chief minister. Hazare, while addressing a joint press conference said that he was satisfied with the assurance given by PMO and Fadnavis.

The activist further said that Fadnavis had assured a new Lokayukta Act for Maharashtra would be passed by the time of the next Budget Session of the State Legislature and that a joint drafting committee would soon be constituted over the same.

"The Joint Drafting Committee would consist of members recommended by Hazare,” said Fadnavis.

“Anna is a treasure to the State and his health is of utmost concern to us. So, we have requested him to call off his strike,” added Fadnavis.

The CM further said that to satisfy Hazare’s demand for autonomy for the Central Agriculture Commission on the lines of the ECI, a committee under Agriculture Minister Singh would be constituted which would include ex-Minister of Agriculture Sompal Shastri and a couple of members from NITI Aayog.