Lokpal Bill war: Kejriwal slams govt as Anna fasts at MMRDA Ground

Mumbai: Amidst cheering supporters, Anna Hazare today began his three-day fast here for a strong Lokpal Bill even as Lok Sabha initiated a debate on the proposed law. Mr Hazare, who is suffering from a viral infection, arrived at the MMRDA grounds in Bandra Kurla Complex of suburban Mumbai along with his close aides Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Manish Sisodia to a thunderous applause.

Mr Kejriwal, key member of Team Anna lashed out at the government during his address at the MMRDA Ground soon after Anna Hazare began his three-day fast.

"We have gathered here to appeal to Parliament, to request them to reject this weak government bill and adopt the Janlokpal Bill. Over the past few months, the government has made several attempts to crush our movement," said Mr Kejriwal.

"When Anna began his protest on April 5, a joint drafting committee was formed. It had several meetings over the next two-and-a-half months. But at the last meeting, the government said it would bring its own bill and asked us to submit our Janlokpal Bill. If this was the case, why have the exercise at all? It was decided that both would be placed before the cabinet. But our draft was never brought before the cabinet," added Mr Kejriwal.

Anna began his fast shouting slogans of 'Vande Matram' and 'inqilab zindabad'.

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The 74-year-old activist reached the venue after paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Juhu Beach while on his way in a rally, which took two-and-half hours to reach the ground,
passing through Santacruz, Tulip Star Hotel, Mithibai College, S V Road, Vile Parle, Khar and Bandra Highway. Hazare travelled in a decorated open truck from the guest
house to MMRDA grounds waving tricolour and a number of people were seen waiting to greet him on the streets.

At 9.30 am, he headed out of the government guesthouse in Bandra where he spent the night after driving into Mumbai from his hometown of Ralegan Siddhi.  Anna looked tired. He is recovering from viral fever.  His doctors say he has a cough and cold.  The 74-year-old activist has rejected his aides' request to cancel his hunger strike.

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As he headed to Juhu to pay tribute to a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, a group of 20 men waved black flags at him and shouted anti-Anna slogans. They have not been identified yet.

At Juhu, Anna asked for a mattress so that he could sit in meditation before Gandhi's statue.  He was escorted by his inner circle aides like Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi, Manish Sisodia and Kiran Bedi.

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From there, he headed to MMRDA Grounds, escorted by Royal Enfield bikers who hope to help Anna beat the traffic. (See pictures )

The rally will pass through Santacruz, Tulip Star hotel, Mithibai College, S V Road, Vile Parle, Khar and Bandra Highway.

As Anna sets up camp at MMRDA Ground, with a crowd that's expected to run into thousands, Parliament will debate the Lokpal Bill that he has described as toothless.  The debate, earlier scheduled to begin at 11 am, has now been pushed to 2 pm.

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Online, nearly 1.4 lakh people have signed on for Anna's jail bharo agitation (to register, log onto jailchalo.com).  Anna's three-day fast will shift to this civil disobedience movement.  And then he plans to campaign against the Congress in the states that vote soon, like Uttar Pradesh.