Man throws shoe at Anna Hazare after he calls off hunger strike over Lokpal, arrested

The man, who threw shoe at Anna Hazare, was identified as Rajkumar Saini and arrested by the Delhi Police.

New Delhi: A man hurled a shoe while noted social activist Anna Hazare was on the stage and addressing a press conference in the national capital, shortly after calling off his ongoing hunger strike over a competent Lokpal on Thursday. The man was reportedly upset that his demand did not get the backing of the noted anti-corruption crusader.

The man, who was identified as Rajkumar Saini, was later arrested by the Delhi Police.

Saini had demanded the construction of a wall at the border as a solution to cross-border infiltration and firing. However, it was not accepted by Anna Hazare. Upset over this, Saini hurled a shoe at Anna Hazare's press conference to express his anger.

A video of the incident also later surfaced on the social networking platform Twitter. 

#WATCH Shoe hurled at stage while Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis addressed farmers' protest lead by Anna Hazare at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan pic.twitter.com/BmYVWPKazG — ANI (@ANI) March 29, 2018

The incident came shortly after Anna ended his hunger strike - six days after he began his agitation at the Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi demanding a competent Lokpal.

Noted social crusader Anna Hazare on Thursday ended his hunger strike - six days after he began his agitation at the Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi demanding a competent Lokpal and adequate measures to address the agrarian crisis in the country.

Anna Hazare ended his agitation after meeting Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Delhi: Anna Hazare ends hunger strike after talks with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister of State for Agriculture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat pic.twitter.com/S1gtclNuoc — ANI (@ANI) March 29, 2018

Union Minister of State for Agriculture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat too met Anna Hazare at the protest site in Delhi today. Singh and Fadnavis visited Anna in view of reports about his fast deteriorating health. 

Anna’s doctor had said on Wednesday that his blood pressure was high and sugar levels low, which made him feel exhausted. Anna had also lost some weight due to the hunger strike.

Though Anna ended his fast, he gave a six-month deadline to the Centre to fulfill all his demands, failing which, he said, a fresh agitation would be launched across the country. 

The noted anti-corruption crusader had begun an indefinite hunger strike at Ramlila Ground demanding a competent Lokpal and better production cost for farm produce.

After beginning the fast, Anna Hazare had said that he would not let any political party join him.

 Anna had said that whoever will join the movement with him, has to sign an affidavit stating that they’ll neither join any political party or a group and that he will never contest elections.

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

Hazare has been pressing for the setting up of a Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in the states to probe corruption cases, bring in new electoral reforms and implementation of the MS Swaminathan Committee report to address the agrarian crisis in the country. 

According to informed sources, the government is ready to accept almost all of the demands but it has reservations about the implementation of the demands in a time-bound manner. 

(With Agency inputs)