Civil society hails deal between Govt and Hazare

New Delhi, Aug 18: Civil society activists today (Aug 18) hailed the agreement between government and Anna Hazare for holding his fast at Ramlila Maidan and demanded that the Jan Lokpal Bill at least be brought to Parliament which could take a call on it.

Expressing happiness at the turn of events, close associate of Hazare and former Law Minister Shanti Bhushan said the decision to allow Hazare to fast for 15 days showed that his demands were reasonable and that the government should bring in a new Lokpal Bill after consulting the Gandhian.

"I am very happy that ultimately good sense has prevailed on the government and it has agreed to permit Anna to fast for 15 days and that shows that Anna was never unreasonable in his demands," Bhushan said.

He said the whole country knows that Hazare has maintained that if not 100 per cent, 60-65 per cent of corruption would be stopped through a strong Lokpal.

Swami Agnivesh hailed the decision to allow Hazare's fast at Ramlila Maidan as a "victory" of the people in the campaign against corruption.

"It is gratifying to note that government has relented and allowed the fast by Hazare without any conditions and at the chosen venue of Ramlila Maidan," he said.

Activist Arvind Kejriwal, expressing happiness over the decision, said the battle has just begun and they are "prepared for it" .

PTI