Anna to leave Tihar jail Today afternoon

New Delhi, Aug 17: Anna Hazare will leave the Tihar jail on Thursday, Aug 18 afternoon and is likely to visit the Raj Ghat before starting his hunger strike for Jan Lokpal at the Ramlila Ground after 3pm, his aide Kiran Bedi said on Wednesday last night.

Bedi said, "the government should get a fresh Lokpal Bill introduced in Parliament and have it passed in accordance with aspirations of the people".

Replying to a question, Bedi said there was no pressure by the Delhi Police on Hazare to accept any condition.

"None of the conditions which we had earlier opposed relating to the number of people to be allowed at the protest venue and parking of vehicles were included in the Delhi Police's permission for the 14-day fast by Hazare, which is a very good and sensible sign", she said.

Bedi said there is also no bar on extending the duration of Hazare's protest from 14 days, she claimed.

"If necessity arises, Team Anna can get the fast extended", Bedi added.

Bedi said Neeraj Kumar, the Director General of Tihar Jail, got the best medical attention for Hazare during the latter's stay in the jail.

Eminent cardiologist Naresh Trehan of Vedanta Medicity and government doctors would look after Hazare during his protest, she said. Bedi said Delhi police showed great "great understanding" and she has always maintained that the city police was capable.

She said the Delhi Police, the Anna team and MCD would work together to prepare the Ramlila Ground for Hazare's protest.

Lawyer Shanti Bhushan said he felt very happy that "ultimately good sense has prevailed on the government and it has agreed to permit Hazare to fast for 14 days".

PTI