Anna Hazare begins hunger strike over Lokpal

Veteran Gandhian and anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Wednesday launched yet another hunger strike seeking implementation of The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 besides recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission.

Hazare, 81, is undertaking fast at his village Ralegan Siddhi in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. Speaking to reporters, he said the letters he wrote to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the last four-and-half-years remain unanswered.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had deputed water resources minister Girish Mahajan as his emissary, however, the octagenarian Gandhian has refused to budge.

"It's now nearly five years that Lokpal Act has been passed but the Central government has not yet appointed Lokpal. The Supreme Court has rapped the Centre thrice but still they have not acted. In Maharashtra, Lokayukta Act has not yet been passed," he said.

He also said that to pull the country out of agrarian distress, the recommendations of MS Swaminathan for Farmers need to be implemented.