Jan Lokpal: It`s do or die this time, says Anna Hazare

Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Tuesday started another indefinite fast from at his village here to press for Jan Lokpal Bill saying that this time it will be a do or die situation.

Zee Media Bureau/Ritesh K Srivastava

Ralegan Siddhi: Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare, who began an indefinite fast from at his village here to press for Jan Lokpal Bill on Tuesday, said that he won`t allow his former aide Arvind Kejriwal to share stage with him this time. Stressing that this time it will be a do or die situation, Hazare said that he won`t buckle under government pressure. "If Government tries to forcibly break my indefinite fast, I`ll stop drinking water too," he said adding, "I will not fall for Govt`s false promises this time." Earlier, addressing the media, Anna said, "I offered prayers at the local temple before beginning the fast and asked god to give the government subuddhi (conscience) to pass the Jan Lokpal Bill," "We have been promised repeatedly that the bill will be passed. But it is more than a year and it has not been passed. The Congress cheated the people," Hazare said. Accusing Congress of "betrayal", he said time has come for the UPA government to deliver on its promise or quit. In the chilly 6 degrees Celsius temperature sweeping Maharashtra`s Ahmednagar district, Anna went on his usual morning walk and then started his hunger strike near the Yadavbaba temple in the village, under the banner of his new organisation, Jantantra Morcha. Bollywood actor Anupam Kher extended his support to Anna’s agitation. Here is what he said in his twitter account:

My best wishes Anna Hazare ji. May God give you strength to continue your selfless crusade against corruption in our country. Jai Ho.:)

— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) December 10, 2013

The Jan Lokpal Bill, also referred to as the Citizen`s Ombudsman Bill, is an anti-corruption legislation drafted by civil society activists, seeking appointment of an independent panel to investigate cases of corruption. Also Read: Govt will pass Lokpal Bill in current Parliament session: Narayanasamy Anna yesterday addressed a press conference and asked the Government to bring the Jan Lokpal Bill in the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament. The social activist accused the Congress of betraying him and the people and said the government has repeatedly said that it will bring Ombudsman Bill, but never done so. Anna further said that time has come for the UPA government to deliver on its promise or quit. The social activist, who had shot into national limelight with his fasts in Delhi over the issue, has chosen Yadav baba temple in his native village Ralegan Siddi this time. Recalling his earlier hunger fast in Delhi, Hazare said, "Sonia Gandhi wrote a letter saying that Government is ready to bring Janlokpal Bill and said please end your fast. I trusted her and I ended my fast." “Two years have passed, since I agitated for the ombudsman bill, but the government has done nothing to get the bill passed in Parliament,” the social activist said. The agitation would be under the banner of Jantantra Morcha, a new organisation launched by him after he dissolved the India Against Corruption (IAC) following parting of ways with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal.