Anna Hazare begins three-day fast

Veteran social activist Anna Hazare on Tuesday began his three-day fast against the weak Lokpal Bill tabled by the government in Parliament.

Hazare, who reached here last night from his village Ralegan Siddhi, paid respects at Mahatma Gandhi's statue in Juhu before proceeding to the fast venue, MMRDA ground, in suburban Bandra in a rally.

Amid concerns over his health as he was suffering from viral infection, Hazare had earlier said he will go ahead with his protest and claimed that his movement was not against any side, person or party.

After his three-day fast, Hazare will launch a civil disobedience "jail bharo" campaign. Online, more than one lakh 37 thousand Indians have offered to participate in the agitation.

In order to accommodate the huge number of people courting arrest during the jail bharo call, Mumbai Police has reportedly decided to make Kalina Ground a makeshift jail. Kalina is in western suburbs of Mumbai, close to the MMRDA Ground.

The government introduced the new version of the Lokpal Bill in Lok Sabha on Thursday after a lengthy debate during which almost all parties opposed the introduction of the Bill in its current form.

Team Anna has rejected the government's version of the Lokpal Bill in Parliament, and termed it to be weak. They have been pressurising the government to accept their demands including bringing the CBI under the ambit of the anti-corruption ombudsman. (ANI)