Anna- all set for fast in Mumbai

Mangalore Today / ITV

Mumbai, Dec 26: Anna Hazare has said that he will continue with his fight against corruption till the end.

Putting an end to speculations on his health, Hazare said that he was fit enough to sit on the fast.

 

 

Addressing his supporters in Ralegan Siddhi before leaving for Mumbai, Anna Hazare hit out at the government while clarifying that his agitation was not directed against any political party.

The government has not done anything against corruption in the 60 years after Independence, Anna Hazare said.

He said the country is fed up of corruption. Anna urged the youth to come forward and join his movement.

Anna once again said that he will sit on protest in front of Sonia Gandhi’s residence for three days starting December 30.

Anna is likely to visit the Sant Dnyaneshwar Samadhi (at Alandi near Pune) enroute and should reach Mumbai by 9 pm, a close aide of Hazare said.

In Delhi, Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan said a parallel sit-in would be held in the national capital also from 10 am to 6pm on the three days.

He appealed to people to converge at Ramlila Maidan to show solidarity with the movement against corruption.

Prashant Bhushan urged supporters to be ready for ’jail bharo’ agitation, if the government used force to stop the agitation.

He said the intensity and future of the agitation will depend on what happens in the Parliament when it finalises the draft of Lokpal bill.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Team Anna volunteers gathered at the sprawling MMRDA grounds, located in the suburban Bandra-Kurla Complex in Mumbai, to oversee preparations a day ahead of the three-day "peaceful agitation" by Hazare.

His agitation will correspond with the three-day extended session of Parliament’s winter session to debate the Lokpal bill, which was tabled last week.

Volunteers of Hazare’s India Against Corruption (IAC) are overseeing the preparations at the ground and have finalised the security details and other arrangements.

The 48,000 sq m Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) can accommodate over 60,000 people. However, the authority has only rented out 20,000 sq m for the rally and 10,000 sq m for parking at a rent of Rs 7.78 lakh, with Rs 5.29 lakh as security deposit.

Around 2,000 constables, 200 sub-inspectors, six platoons of the state reserve police force, three Quick Response Teams and two Bomb Detection and Disposal Squads have been requisitioned for security at the ground.

The ground will have six emergency exits, 16 fire extinguishers and six metal detector units, besides round-the-clock ambulance services.

A special room along with a cot and attached toilet, which will have 24-hour hot water supply, will be provided to Hazare.

"A team of doctors, comprising volunteers, will be present. We will have an information centre, a media room and a registration counter at the venue," IAC coordinator Mayank Gandhi told reporters here.