Santosh Hegde backs Anna Hazare's hunger strike on Lokpal

Retired Supreme Court Judge N Santosh Hegde has extended his support to the proposed hunger strike of social activist Anna Hazare from October 2 against the Union government for the delay in appointment of a Lokpal at the Centre.

The former Solicitor General of India, a key member of "Team Anna" that spearheaded a strong anti-corruption movement in the country in 2011, said he would participate in the strike only "for a while" because he has other commitments.

"If I am free on October 2, I will certainly go (to Ralegan Siddhi) or else some other day. I am with Anna Hazare (on this issue)," the former Karnataka Lokayukta told PTI.

Hazare had said he would go on a hunger strike from October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, at his native Ralegan Siddhi village in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra, and also appealed people to join him in his campaign for a corruption-free country.

The anti-corruption crusader criticised the NDA government, saying it had earlier assured it will appoint the Lokpal and implement the Lokpal Bill, passed by Parliament and signed by the then President in January 2014.

"But there is a lack of will in this government to curb corruption and hence, it is giving a lot of reasons and delaying the appointment of the Lokpal," Hazare said.

Echoing his sentiments, Hegde said "it's quite some time since assurance was given, the law has been passed. For some reason or the other they are not making appointment."