New Delhi, August 18 (IANS): On the third day of protests across India, the government blinked Thursday and allowed the fasting and still in jail Anna Hazare to hold his indefinite hunger strike at the spacious Ramlila ground here. As tens of thousands of people continued to take to the streets in town after town in support of Hazare’s call for an effective anti-corruption legislation, the authorities gave in and said he could fast for 15 days.
Hazare wanted to fast indefinitely while the government wanted him to end his protest within three days. It then agreed to a seven-day fast and now, much later, to a fortnight-long hunger strike. An elated Hazare, 74, who began his fast Tuesday soon after his detention, retorted that he would not give up till his version of the Lokpal Bill was not passed by parliament.
“I will not stop fighting till I get the Lokpal Bill,” the former soldier said in a televised message, as thousands of cheering supporters massed at the Ramlila ground at the edge of Old Delhi. “My health is fine, don’t worry about me. I am not feeling tired. Tonight I will be here (in jail), and tomorrow I will meet you all.”
The government’s U-turn came after intense negotiations between Team Anna and Delhi Police for two days after Hazare refused to leave Tihar Jail despite being released within hours of his arrest. Delhi Police had earlier put restrictions, including on the number of people who could take part in the Hazare fast that was originally to take place in a smaller park not far from Ramlila ground.
Hazare wanted to fast indefinitely while the government wanted him to end his protest within three days. It then agreed to a seven-day fast and now, much later, to a fortnight-long hunger strike. An elated Hazare, 74, who began his fast Tuesday soon after his detention, retorted that he would not give up till his version of the Lokpal Bill was not passed by parliament.
“I will not stop fighting till I get the Lokpal Bill,” the former soldier said in a televised message, as thousands of cheering supporters massed at the Ramlila ground at the edge of Old Delhi. “My health is fine, don’t worry about me. I am not feeling tired. Tonight I will be here (in jail), and tomorrow I will meet you all.”
The government’s U-turn came after intense negotiations between Team Anna and Delhi Police for two days after Hazare refused to leave Tihar Jail despite being released within hours of his arrest. Delhi Police had earlier put restrictions, including on the number of people who could take part in the Hazare fast that was originally to take place in a smaller park not far from Ramlila ground.
