Ralegan Siddhi:
Social activist Anna Hazare will launch indefinite hunger strike for a strong Lokpal Bill, at Yadavbaba temple in Maharashtra from December 10.
Announcing his agitation, Hazare has asked the Centre to "show courage" in bringing in the bill in the Winter session of Parliament, beginning from December 5.
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 PTI today, 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 Nov 23, 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 in Mahrashtra and not at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi.
He also appealed to people to exert pressure on government through non-violent ways for the passage of the bill.
The Centre had passed the Lokpal Bill in Lok Sabha, bowing to the public pressure in the wake of Jan Lokpal agitation in 2011. Rajya Sabha is yet to pass the bill.
Hazare had said the bill, passed by Lok Sabha, was at variance with the draft Jan Lokpal Bill.