Anna Hazare begins fast for Lokpal Bill

Mumbai: Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare began an indefinite hunger strike at his native village of Ralegan-Siddhi in Ahmadnagar district, Maharashtra, on Tuesday morning to press for the passage of the Jan Lokpal Bill in the ongoing winter session of Parliament.

“The time for assurances is over,” he told reporters before launching his fast at 11am.

“Now it is time for action. I will not withdrew my fast till Parliament passes the Jan Lokpal Bill,” which seeks to set up a citizen’s ombudsman to investigate corruption cases.

Accusing the government of betraying him, Hazare said, “Despite getting written assurance from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the time of the agitation in Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi (in 2011), the government has not introduced the Jan Lokpal Bill.”