4.2.19

Maharashtra: Villagers block highway as Anna’s fast enters Day 5

On the fifth day of Anna Hazare’s indefinite fast to demand a Lokpal and a Lokayukta in the states, 200 locals from his village Ralegan Siddhi blocked the Pune-Ahmednagar highway for an hour to show their solidarity with the social activist. The blockage was later cleared by cops.

The 81-year-old Gandhian crusader is on an indefinite hunger strike since January 30 Ralegan Siddhi to press for the appointment of Lokpal and Lokayukta.

Earlier in the day, Hazare criticised the Narendra Modi government for “deceiving the people of the country” by not implementing the Lokpal Act, which was passed by Parliament and approved by the President in January 2014.

Hazare said the NDA government doesn’t seem inclined to implement the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act even though the 2011 Lokpal movement played a huge role in Modi’s ascent to power at the Centre. “The Modi government is nearing completion of its full tenure, but it has not shown any inclination towards appointing a Lokpal. It is merely giving false promises to the people,” Hazare said.

Hazare’s personal secretary Datta Awari said, “Anna has decided to return his Padma Bhushan award if the government does not fulfil his demands by February 8.”

Meanwhile, Hazare’s office has issued a statement calling upon his followers to intensify their agitation across the country.

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