Social activist and a vociferous propagator of the anti-corruption ombudsman, Lokpal, Anna Hazare on Wednesday began his fast at his native Ralegan Siddhi village in Maharashtra for the formation of Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in the states.
I will launch a hunger strike from my village Ralegan Siddhi from 10 am tomorrow (January 30). My protest is not against any individual, group, or party. I have time after time launched campaigns in the interest of the society and the country and this protest is similar to all of them),” Hazare had said on Tuesday.
Attacking the Modi government he had said that the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill 2013 were passed five years ago but the Centre was delaying it again and again.
Anna Hazare had earlier sat on a fast at the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on March 23 last year but called it off after the PMO gave a written assurance that his demands would be fulfilled.
In July last year, the 81-year-old social activist said he will launch a hunger strike from October 2 against the Union government for the delay in appointment of a Lokpal at the Centre.
He relented after the intervention of Maharashtra chief minister and other ministers of his cabinet.
Then again on December 1, Anna Hazare said he will launch a hunger strike from January 30, 2019, at his village if the Lokpal is not appointed.
He further wrote a letter to Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), accusing the NDA government of deferring the appointment of Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in states alleging that the government is making excuses to avoid the appointment of Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in states.