India: Anna Hazare to fast in Mumbai from tomorrow

Mumbai/New Delhi, Dec 26 (PTI) Showing no signs of relenting, social activist Anna Hazare today said he will go ahead with his three-day fast in Mumbai from tomorrow against a "weak" Lokpal (Ombudsman) Bill with his team raising the pitch for an independent probe agency for the ombudsman saying it was "non-negotiable" even as the Indian government asked him to wait till Parliament decides on the legislation. Amid concerns over his health as he was suffering from viral infection, 74-year-old Hazare said he will go ahead with his protest and claimed that his movement was not against any side, person or party. "For 25 years we have been fighting corruption. Congress (party) people feel that this movement is against them. Tell us, how many times in 25 years have we led movements against you?" he said a day before his fast at the MMRDA grounds in Mumbai. In New Delhi, the Indian government asked the activist to wait for the outcome of the debate on Lokpal Bill in Parliament tomorrow before launching his agitation. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla said everyone should leave it to Parliament to decide on the Lokpal as it is in its domain now. But Hazare's close aide Prashant Bhushan told a press conference in the national capital that the four demands they raised in an open letter to MPs yesterday were "non-negotiable" and that they were ready to call off their protest in front of the houses of members of Parliament if government was ready for the amendments. The demands were that Lokpal and Lokayuktas should have power to suo moto initiate their own investigations, that the Lokpal should be able to carry out independent probe, that selection of Lokpal should be through consensus of the selection panel and bringing the lower bureaucracy under direct control of Lokpal. "The four changes are non-negotiable.... For other changes we can continue our fight later," Bhushan said. "Anna will arrive in Delhi on December 30 for dharna outside a MP's house.... it could be Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi's residence.... It will depend on what transpires in Parliament. If there are indications that Parliament or the government is ready for amendments, then there will be no need for it (the protest)," Bhushan said. Meanwhile, tight security arrangements have been made at the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) grounds in Mumbai where Hazare will be sitting for his 3-day fast. The security ring will comprise 2,000 constables, 200 sub-inspectors of police, six platoons of Maharashtra state reserve police force, three teams of Quick Response Team and two Bomb Detection and Disposal Squads. PTI