Anna to fast in Mumbai from tomorrow

Showing no signs of relenting, Anna Hazare today said he will go ahead with his three-day fast in Mumbai from tomorrow against a "weak" Lok Pal Bill with his team raising the pitch for an independent probe agency for the ombudsman saying it was "non-negotiable" even as government asked him to wait till Parliament decides on the legislation.

Amid concerns over his health as he was suffering from viral infection, 74-year-old Hazare said he will go ahead with his protest and claimed that his movement was not against any side, person or party.

"For 25 years we have been fighting corruption. Congress people feel that this movement is against them. Tell us, how many times in 25 years have we led movements against you?" he said a day before his fast in MMRDA grounds here.

In New Delhi, the government asked the activist to wait for the outcome of the debate on Lok Pal Bill in Parliament tomorrow before launching his agitation.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla said everyone should leave it to Parliament to decide on the Lok Pal as it is in its domain now.

Hazare's close aide Prashant Bhushan told a press conference in national capital that the four demands they raised in an open letter to MPs were "non-negotiable" and they were ready to call off gherao of MPs' houses if government was ready for amendments.

The demands were Lokpal and Lokayuktas should have power to suo moto initiate their own investigations, the obmudsman should be able to carry out independent probe, selection of Lokpal should be through consensus of selection panel and bringing lower bureaucracy under direct control of Lokpal.

"The four changes are non-negotiable...For other changes we can continue our fight later," Bhushan said.