Mumbai, Aug 09: In an unprecedented incident in Maharashtra's political history, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Suresh Jain, facing charges of corruption from noted social worker Anna Hazare, today resorted to a fast-unto- death for restoration of his 'self-respect' at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai. Jain, who engaged in a verbal spat with Hazare and levelled counter-charges of malpractices against the noted social worker in the running of his public trusts, began his hunger strike in a pandal, stone's throw away from that of the anti-corruption crusader.
Jain, an NCP strongman, has demanded a probe by a retired judge into the affairs of the trusts run by Hazare. Till his demand was met, he would continue with his hunger strike, Jain, vowed.
Sureshdada, who belongs to Jain religion, has stated that he would consume boiled water during his agitation. "I can resort to hunger strike for over a month," he had stated earlier.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde has appealed to Jain and Hazare to withdraw their agitation.
To press for his demand of a probe into alleged corruption by four Maharashtra ministers and implementation of social reforms, Hazare had announced his fast-unto-death from today, coinciding with the ‘August Kranti Din’.

Bureau Report