Anna Hazare's hunger strike enters 4th day; MNS lends support

RALEGAN SIDDHI: Anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare's indefinite hunger strike pressing for passage of Jan Lokpal Bill in Parliament entered the fourth today.

The 76-year-old anti-corruption crusader has said that he will not break his fast till the Jan Lokpal Bill is passed in Parliament.

Hazare is fasting near the Yadavbaba temple at Ralegan Siddhi village in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district, under the banner of 'Jantantra Morcha'.

Meanwhile, supporters of Hazare thronged the village from places like Pune and Aurangabad today.

MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar, who left for the village today, said he would be meeting Hazare to extend his party's support.

"We feel that the cause taken up by Anna is right. We request parties opposed to the bill to extend their support to the legislation," Nandgaonkar said.

Hazare's associate and former IPS officer Kiran Bedi is expected to join Anna's fast from tomorrow. "People should dislodge the government through ballot if the bill is not passed in this session," she had said earlier.

The government has said it is serious about passing the ombudsman bill in the winter session, but Hazare has declared that he won't call off the fast till the bill is passed.

The social activist yesterday shot off a letter to the Prime Minister's Office, calling the government's attitude on the issue "a fraud on democracy" as it was not even on Parliament's agenda.

A team of Aaam Aadmi Party yesterday called on the Gandhian and vowed to continue lending support to his fight for an effective Jan Lokpal.