Hazare back in Ramlila Maidan with another hunger strike

Seven years after his first foray into the capital, that shook the foundations of the then UPA government, Activist Anna Hazare on Friday returned for yet another indefinite hunger strike on the issue of appointing a Lokpal.

Hazare sat on the hunger strike at Ramlila Maidan, the same spot where he sat in the 2011 protest.

Hazare visited Rajghat, Mahatma Gandhi's memorial, in the morning and marched to Shaheedi Park before heading to Ramlila Maidan.

He began his protest with an attack on the Narendra Modi-led BJP government, saying his efforts to communicate with the government had yielded no result.

Besides setting up of Lokpal and Lokayuktas, he is also demanding the implementation of Swaminathan report that gives suggestions on fighting agrarian distress.

"I have written 43 letters in the last four years but did not get any reply. The farmers in the country are in distress as they are not getting remunerative prices and the government is not acting to ensure fair prices," he said adding, "the day, March 23, has been chosen on purpose as Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were hanged to death on this day by the British."

He accused Modi of not being serious about appointing Lokpal. "You cancelled trains carrying protesters to Delhi, you want to push them to violence. Police force deployed for me as well. I wrote in many letters that I don't need police protection. Your protection won't save me. This attitude of the government is not done," he said.

While emphasising that he was ready for discussions, he said that he will continue his protest till the government comes out with a concrete action plan.

Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh and some ministers from Maharashtra have met him but Hazare said, "I said I don't trust you. How many promises you have fulfilled so far? Nothing. So come with concrete action plan."