Anna Hazare ends hunger strike, gives a six-month deadline to Centre to meet his demands

New Delhi: Noted social crusader Anna Hazare on Thursday ended his hunger strike - six days after he began his agitation at the Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi demanding a competent Lokpal and adequate measures to address the agrarian crisis in the country.

Anna Hazare ended his agitation after meeting Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Delhi: Anna Hazare ends hunger strike after talks with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister of State for Agriculture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat pic.twitter.com/S1gtclNuoc — ANI (@ANI) March 29, 2018

Union Minister of State for Agriculture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat too met Anna Hazare at the protest site in Delhi today. Singh and Fadnavis visited Anna in view of reports about his fast deteriorating health. 

Anna’s doctor had said on Wednesday that his blood pressure was high and sugar levels low, which made him feel exhausted. Anna had also lost some weight due to the hunger strike.

Though Anna ended his fast, he gave a six-month deadline to the Centre to fulfill all his demands, failing which, he said, a fresh agitation would be launched across the country. 

The noted anti-corruption crusader had begun an indefinite hunger strike at Ramlila Ground demanding a competent Lokpal and better production cost for farm produce.

After beginning the fast, Anna Hazare had said that he would not let any political party join him.

 Anna had said that whoever will join the movement with him, has to sign an affidavit stating that they’ll neither join any political party or a group and that he will never contest elections.

“Whoever joins the movement, signs affidavit which states, that they’ll neither join any political party or group nor will contest elections, ensure service to country, society and maintain good character. I’ll not let any political party or group come on this stage,” Hazare said.

Hazare has been pressing for the setting up of a Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in the states to probe corruption cases, bring in new electoral reforms and implementation of the MS Swaminathan Committee report to address the agrarian crisis in the country. 

According to informed sources, the government is ready to accept almost all of the demands but it has reservations about the implementation of the demands in a time-bound manner.