Anna Hazare begins indefinite fast again

India’s anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Tuesday started another indefinite fast demanding the central government to pass an anti-corruption bill.

At least 12 supporters joined the 76-year-old veteran social activist as he began his fast at a temple venue in his village Ralegan Siddhi, 230 km from Mumbai. Residents of nearby villagers also started trickling in. No one joined from the Aam Aadmi Party of Arvind Kejriwal, who had broken away from Hazare to start the new political party. However, Hazare said anyone was welcome to join the fast provided they did not come with the banner of a political party. One of his office functionaries in Ralegan Siddhi told Gulf News there was a strong police presence in the village. Hazare said this would be a do or die situation since the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had betrayed him earlier when Congress president Sonia Gandhi wrote a letter asking him to end the fast and that the government was ready to bring the Jan Lokpal Bill. ‘I didn’t know that this UPA government will betray the public and me.’