Team Anna launches fast; Hazare on dharna

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, Jul 25: Team Anna today launched their indefinite fast here, raising the pitch against the UPA government on the issue of corruption.

's three close aides -- Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Gopal Rai -- sat on a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar here while the 74-year-old activist is on a dharna.

Hazare has served an ultimatum that he will wait for the government to take a decision on their demands in the next four days or else he will join his colleagues on fast from Sunday.

Before reaching the protest venue, Hazare and his team members went to Rajghat to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi. As he arrived on the stage erected at Jantar Mantar, Hazare raised slogans like 'Inqulab Zindabad' and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' as his supporters waved the tricolour.

The protesters demand a strong Lokpal, setting up of a special team to probe corruption allegations against 15 Union Ministers, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, setting up of a fast track court to try criminal cases against MPs and SIT looking into allegations against party chiefs.

Yesterday, Hazare and his team spoke in different voices on the indefinite fast with the activist asserting that it is for Lokpal Bill while his aides said it is limited to their three demands. The protest also came on a day when Pranab Mukherjee, against whom Team Anna had levelled allegations, took oath as President of the country.

Team Anna had termed as unfortunate his elevation without a probe into allegations against him. They said Constitution provides immunity to President from any investigation and it would have been better if a probe had cleared him.

PTI