Anna Hazare gets support from home state for 'second freedom struggle'

MUMBAI: Over 400 villagers of Ralegan Siddhi in western Maharashtra joined in a day-long token hunger strike as one among them, Anna Hazare, on Wednesday went on a day-long fast at Delhi, declaring that his agitation against corruption was the "second freedom struggle".

"Over 400 villagers from Ralegan Siddhi have joined others from Parner tehsil in the protest outside the tehsil office," Datta Awari, a close aide of the social activist, said over phone.

Speakers at the event, which included prominent Hazare supporters from the tehsil, lambasted the Central government for the delay in drafting the Lokpal Bill, he said.

"We are all ready to welcome Hazare to the village," Awari said, adding that the Magsaysay award winner is scheduled to return to Ralegan Siddhi on Thursday evening.

Supporters of Hazare have organised similar protest and token hunger strike outside all district collectorates in the state, Awari said.

There is a deliberate attempt to malign the civil society members of the joint panel on the Bill, Awari said.