ANNA HAZARE HOLDS FAST -GIVES AUGUST 16 DEADLINE FOR LOKPAL BILL

Civil Rights activist, Anna Hazare after observing a day long fast at Rajghat on June 8^th, threatened to conduct another hunger strike from August 16 if Lokpal Bill is not passed by then, saying it was part of the “second freedom struggle”.

The agitation saw Hazare and his associates attacking the government for putting “hurdles” in the drafting of a new Lokpal Bill that will have under its purview the Prime Minister, higher judiciary and MP’s activities in Parliament.

Hazare slammed the government by alleging that it was trying to target the civil society members of joint lokpal panel, such as Shanti Bhushan, Prashant Bhushan, Hedge and Arvind Kejriwal through a “discreet” campaign.

Hazare’s protest was joined by thousands of supporters. The Hazare camp made it clear that the protest as such “was not for Ramdev as such” but was for the cause of black money, Lokpal and assault on democratic rights. Hazare added by saying, he will start an indefinite strike at Jantar Mantar from August 16 if Lokpal Bill is not passed by then.

Report by Alka