Anna Hazare hunger strike: No political party can join movement; updates

Hazare recently slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Centre for failing to appoint a Lokpal and fulfilling its promises to farmers

Social activist Anna Hazare on the second day of his hunger strike on Saturday said the government was going to send a draft on his demands of an all-power anti-graft body and relief for distressed farmers that will be discussed by the core committee of the protesters.

"I have been told that the government is sending a draft. I will discuss it with the core committee," Hazare told reporters here.

He has been on an indefinite hunger strike at the Ramlila Maidan here.

The activist has been pressing for appointments of Lokayukta at the Centre and Lokayuktas at the states, implementation of the M.S. Swaminathan Commission recommendation for fair prices of agriculture produce and electoral reforms.

Police said about 3,000 people participated in the agitation on Saturday. The number was 10,000 on Friday, according to police.

Hazare has been pressing for setting up of the Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in states, besides the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report, which suggested ways to address the agrarian distress plaguing the country.  

Initially, Hazare is set to go to Rajghat on Friday with others. Later, they will reportedly march to Shaheedi Park and from there to Ram Lila Maidan. The day, March 23, has been chosen on purpose as this is the anniversary of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev's hanging to death by the British, said an aide of Hazare's. 

The Delhi Traffic Police has issued an advisory, warning commuters to avoid taking routes towards Aruna Asaf Ali Road, Delhi Gate, Darya Ganj, New Delhi Railway Station, Ajmeri Gate, Paharganj, ITO, Rajghat, Minto Road, Vivekanand Marg, and JLN Marg. 

Here are the top 10 developments around Anna Hazare's indefinite fast against the Modi government:

1) Won't let any political party/group join me: Anna Hazare

Whoever joins the movement, signs affidavit which states, that they'll neither join any political party/group nor will contest elections, ensure service to country, society and maintain good character. I'll not let any political party/group to come on this stage: Anna Hazare
 

2) Hazare slams government's 'sly attitude': Hazare spoke to news agencies ahead of his agitation and accused the government of cancelling trains carrying protesters to Delhi. He said that the government wanted to push the protesters to violence. 

Hazare added that the police force has been deployed for him as well even when he has written in many letters that he didn't need police protection. "Your protection won't save me. This sly attitude of the government is not done," said Hazare.

3) Hazare to start indefinite hunger strike: Social activist Anna Hazare is set to go on an indefinite hunger strike against the Centre in Delhi from today.  

4) Hazare agitating for Lokpal, framers' issues: Hazare's agitation is meant to pressure the Modi government for setting up of the Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in the states, besides implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report, which has suggested ways to address the agrarian distress.

"This will be a satyagrah for Jan Lokpal, farmers' issues, and poll reforms. At least 1.2 million (12 lakh) farmers have committed suicide in the last 22 years. I want to know the number of industrialists committing suicide during this period," Hazare said. 

5) Anna returns to Ram Lila Maidan: The venue for Hazare's protest will be the same iconic Ram Lila Maidan, where he had sat on a hunger strike in 2011 and demanded that the then Congress government set up a Lokpal to investigate cases of corruption. His anti-corruption movement had caught the imagination of millions of Indians and shook the then ruling Congress-led UPA government. 

This time, however, his target will be the Narendra Modi-led BJP government. 

6) Hazare pays tribute to Gandhi: Ahead of his agitation at the Ram Lila Maidan, anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare today paid his tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat in Delhi. Later today, he will begin an indefinite fast demanding a competent Lokpal and better production cost for farm produce. 

7) Anna demands Agriculture Price Commission: However, what exactly does the social activist want the Modi government to do for the country's farmers? Hazare has demanded the setting up of an Agriculture Price Commission along the lines of the Election Commission and the Niti Aayog.  

Earlier, 31 apolitical farmer associations from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh participated to set the agenda for the March 23 satyagraha.

Retired Supreme Court judge and former Karnataka Lokayukta N Santosh Hegde has announced to join the social activist's stir. 

8) Hazare ready to do 'satyagraha from jail': Maharashtra Irrigation Minister Girish Mahajan had earlier met Hazare in a bid to persuade him to give up his indefinite hunger strike. However, the anti-corruption crusader, who has put together a team of around 6,000 people across the country for the purpose, indicated that he would move ahead with the fast until the Modi government came up with a concrete proposal to empower the Lokpal. The social activist added that he would do "satyagraha from jail" if not allotted a space in New Delhi.  

9) Hazare worte 21 letters to PM Modi: Hazare last week attacked Prime Minister Narender Modi, saying that he has failed to fulfill his promises made to farmers and on the Lokpal. "I will fight for farmers and Lokpal," he said, adding that while he has been sitting silently on these issues for the past three years, he had been trying to communicate with BJP-led Central government over them.  

However, nothing had happened, he said, noting: "I have written 21 letters to PM Modi but did not receive any reply till date." 

10) 'Will do satyagraha until I am alive': Hazare has said that he would do satyagraha as long as life is left in his body.

Police issues advisory; traffic to be affected: Traffic will be affected near Ram Lila Maidan today as social activist Anna Hazare will be organising a public meeting at the venue. The Delhi Traffic Police has issued an advisory warning to commuters asking them avoid taking routes towards Aruna Asaf Ali Road, Delhi Gate, Darya Ganj, New Delhi Railway Station, Ajmeri Gate, Paharganj, ITO, Rajghat, Minto Road, Vivekanand Marg, JLN Marg, etc. 

No commercial vehicles will be allowed between Delhi Gate and Rajghat to JLN Marg, Kamla Market roundabout and Hamdard, Paharganj Chowk and Y Point Sheela Cinema to Ajmeri Gate, DDU Minto Road towards Kamla Market, the advisory said. 

Other stretches where commercial vehicles will not be allowed are Shradhanand Marg (Lahori Gate towards Ajmeri Gate), Barakhamba Tolstoy Marg towards Guru Nanak Chowk, Sheela Cinema Y' Point and Lahori Gate, it added. 

With agency inputs