Hazare holds fast; gives Aug 15 deadline for Lokpal Bill

New Delhi: Seeking to mount pressure on the government, civil rights activist Anna Hazare today observed a day-long fast at Rajghat and threatened another hunger strike from August 16 if Lokpal Bill is not passed by then, saying it was part of the “second freedom struggle”.
The agitation saw Hazare and his associates attacking the government for putting “hurdles” in the drafting of a strong Lokpal Bill that will have under its purview the Prime Minister, higher judiciary and MPs’ activities in Parliament.
Hazare slammed the government, alleging that it was trying to target the civil society members of the joint Lokpal panel, such as Shanti Bhushan, Prashant Bhushan, Santosh Hegde and Arvind Kejriwal through a “discreet” campaign.
Joined by a few thousand supporters, Hazare staged the protest against the police crackdown on Ramdev’s congregation here on Saturday night.