Anna 'fit to fast', huge crowds expected

Mumbai: Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare left for Mumbai on Tuesday to undertake his 3-day fast. He said he is fit to fast on December 27, 28 and 29. "I was not well for two days, but now I am fine and all fit to fast," Anna said before leaving Ralegaon Siddhi for Mumbai.

Attacking the government once again over the Lokpal Bill, Hazare said that he will agitate outside UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi's house for three days starting December 30.

"My agitation is not against a political party. We will agitate outside Sonia Gandhi's house from December 30. The government did a U-turn from what they promised earlier," Hazare said.

Criticising the government for the Baba Ramdev swoop, Hazare said, "We have all seen how they attacked protestors at the Ramlila Maidan during Baba Ramdev's rally. I have no fear of death."

Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan said that along with Anna Hazare's fast in Mumbai, the 3-day fast will also be held in Delhi's Ramlila Maidan.

"Anna will undertake a three-day fast in Mumbai. At the same time we will fast for three days at Ramlila Maidan. On December 30 and 31, there will be a Jail Bharo Andolan," Bhushan said.

"On December 30 and 31, we will protest outside the houses of those MPs who support the government's Lokpal Bill," he said.

Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal said, "People who are afraid of going to jail with the coming of a strong Lokpal Bill are the ones who are trying to create a divide. We are united in this fight against corruption."

Meanwhile, preparations were on in full swing at Mumbai's MMRDA grounds in the Bandra-Kurla complex for Hazare's three-day fast.

People have slowly started gathering at the MMRDA grounds even as work is on at top speed to ensure that the grounds are ready by Monday evening. Team Anna is expecting nearly one lakh people to show up for Hazare's third protest this year.

The security at the ground will comprise 2,000 constables, 200 sub-inspectors of police, six platoons of state reserve police force, three Quick Response Teams and two Bomb Detection and Disposal Squads.

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

Out of the 30,000 sq metre-ground , 10,000 sq metres will be reserved for parking. A fire engine will be deployed during all three days, a service that comes at a price of Rs 3.5 lakh. The IAC has already booked over 300 dormitories in Bandra and Kurla and over 2,000 policemen will be manning the venue 24x7.

Posted in: Politics