Anna Hazare to go on indefinite hunger strike from Dec 10 at his village Ralegan Siddhi

NEW DELHI – Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare today said he will go on an indefinite hunger strike from December 10 at his village Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra for passage of the anti-graft law.

Hazare, who had earlier announced that he would go on indefinite hunger strike here from the first day of the winter session of Parliament, said he shifted the venue of his agitation at his village on the advise of his doctors as he had undergone a surgery recently.

“I had promised the people of India that if the government does not pass the Janlokpal Bill, then I will sit on “anshan” (fast) from the first day of the winter session at Ramlila Maidan. I am not well as I underwent a difficult operation and doctors have asked me to take precautions,” Hazare told reporters.

“I will be sitting on an indefinite hunger strike from December 10 at Ralegan Siddhi instead of Ramlila Ground in Delhi”, he added.

He said the agitation would be organized under the banner of his newly-formed organisation, Jantantra Morcha. “We have held over 700 rallies in seven states in the past six months under the organization to mobilize people.”

The Gandhian attacked both Congress-led UPA and the opposition for having “anti-youth, anti-student, anti-village and anti-poor” economic policies.

“Instead of bringing in multi-national companies, the government should focus on developing village and generate employment there as Gandhiji had said that India won’t develop until its villages are developed,” Hazare said.