Team Anna to sit on indefinite fast for effective Lokpal Bill

New Delhi, July 25 (ANI): Team Anna will sit on an indefinite fast the Jantar Mantar here beginning on Wednesday to mount pressure on the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre for the passage of an effective Lokpal Bill.

Veteran social activist Anna Hazare is expected to visit Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Rajghat here before heading to the venue of the fast.

Anna, who has been advised by doctors to skip the hunger strike, has resolved to go ahead with the fast.

Hazare had earlier on Tuesday said the Lokpal Bill would put an end to at least 65 percent corruption.

Hazare said that the objective of the campaign against graft is aimed to press their demand for bringing a strong and effective anti-graft bill.

"Tomorrow's campaign is for Lokpal Bill. The government should pass the Lokpal Bill, so we are fighting for it from last one and a half years," Hazare told mediapersons in Pune.

"Because the rise in corruption is making it difficult for the common man to survive and we have faith that once the Lokpal Bill is passed then it would put an end to 65 percent of corruption," he added.

Hazare also criticized the Central Government for misleading and cheating the people of the country repeatedly.

"The government is continuously cheating people. They first formed a drafting committee to frame a good draft of the bill. When on 5th April, I began my hunger strike at the Jantar Mantar, the government agreed to our demands. I was asked to end my hunger strike and later backtracked," said Hazare.

"Firstly, the government backtracked in the joint committee, second time the standing committee backtracked and for the third time the Parliament backtracked," he added.

Three of Hazare's close associates, Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Gopal Rai would be staging an indefinite fast from today.

Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal had earlier last week appealed to the public to support its indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi from July 25 against the UPA Government on the issue of corruption.

Team Anna has got permission to fast at Jantar Mantar till August 8, the day the Monsoon Session of Parliament is expected to begin.

Team Anna has announced the indefinite protest against the UPA Government and its failure to enact a strong Lokpal as well as not setting up a special investigation team to probe corruption charges. (ANI)