Raising the pitch on Lokpal issue, Social activist Anna Hazare has begun his one day token fast at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Sunday morning protesting against “watered-down” proposals of Parliamentary Standing Committee on the anti-graft measure.
Hazare began his fast at around 10:15 AM at Jantar Mantar, the protest hotspot in the capital, surrounded by a number of supporters who waved the tri-colour, sporadically shouting slogans like ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’.
“My fast has begun. I will not speak much now,” he told his supporters as he also chanted ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Vande Mataram’.
Clad in his trade-mark white kurta and Gandhi cap, Hazare was received at the protest venue with a thunderous applause and sloganeering by his supporters who had gathered at the venue braving the morning chill.
Along with Hazare, prominent members of Team Anna like Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh and Kumar Vishwas also joined the fast.
Hazare earlier visited Rajghat and paid homage to the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi and spend around 30 minutes meditating there before proceeding for Jantar Mantar.
“I am fine and healthy,” he told reporters.
This is Hazare’s third protest on the issue and second at Jantar Mantar.
Hazare has also threatened to go on an indefinite fast from December 27 at Ramlila Maidan if a strong Lokpal bill is not passed in the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament.