Anna Hazare to launch hunger strike from October 2

Social activist Anna Hazare on Sunday said he will launch a hunger strike from October 2 to protest the delay in appointing a Lokpal at the Centre.

“I will go on a hunger strike from October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, at my native Ralegan Siddhi village in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra,” Hazare told PTI.

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The anti-corruption crusader also appealed the people to join him in his campaign for a corruption-free country.

Hazare criticized the NDA-led government saying it had earlier promised to appoint Lokpal and implement the Lokpal bill, which was passed by Parliament and signed by former President Pranab Mukherjee in 2014.

Hazare alleged that there is a lack of will in the NDA-led government to curb corruption and added; “Hence, it is giving a lot of reasons and delaying the appointment of the Lokpal”.

The Lokpal bill was passed in 2014 but is yet to implemented.

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Earlier this week, the Supreme Court expressed dissatisfaction over the Centre’s response in appointing the Lokpal.

The Centre told the apex court that the Lokpal selection committee headed by the prime minister would meet to set up a search panel for recommending names for the appointment of Lokpal committee and its members.

The Supreme Court in its verdict in 2017, had said the enforcement of Lokpal Act could not be suspended till the proposed amendments, including on the issue of the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, were cleared by Parliament.