Indefinite fast for Lokpal Bill from 10 Dec: Anna

Social activist Anna Hazare will launch indefinite hunger strike for a strong Lokpal Bill, at Yadavbaba temple here from 10 December. Announcing his agitation, Hazare has asked the Centre to ‘show courage’ in bringing in the bill in the Winter session of Parliament, beginning from 5 December. Hazare had written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, expressing displeasure over the Central government’s failure to bring in the anti-graft legislation. Speaking to a newswire on Thursday, the veteran Gandhian alleged that Centre had been dragging its feet on the passage of Lokpal Bill in Rajya Sabha for last one year, because it lacked ‘political will’. In his reply to Hazare’s letter, Parliamentary Affairs Minister V Narayanasamy mentioned various steps taken by the government to bring in the Lokpal Bill. Hazare said he had received Narayanasamy’s letter on Tuesday. Expressing his displeasure over the government’s efforts, Hazare said, ‘the correspondence has been going on for last two years but without any result. Earlier, the Centre assured that the bill will be presented in Budget session of parliament. The selection committee had passed it on 23 Nov, 2012, but nothing happened even in the monsoon session also’. ‘...Now, the nation wants result and not the reason and that is why I will be observing hunger strike,’ the septuagenarian said Hazare informed the agitation will be held here and not at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi.