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| India's Anna Hazare begins new anti-corruption fast | India's Anna Hazare begins new anti-corruption fast |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Indian anti-corruption campaigner Anna Hazare has begun a fresh hunger strike demanding the passage of stiff anti-corruption laws by the parliament. | |
| Mr Hazare has long demanded an independent ombudsman to prosecute politicians and civil servants suspected of corruption. | |
| The idea was passed by the lower house of parliament in the form of the Lokpal bill in December 2011. | The idea was passed by the lower house of parliament in the form of the Lokpal bill in December 2011. |
| But the upper house adjourned amid chaos without passing the law. | |
| A 12-day fast by Mr Hazare in 2011 had led to the introduction of the bill in parliament. | |
| Mr Hazare, 76, began an "indefinite" hunger strike at his Ralegan Siddhi village in the western state of Maharashtra on Tuesday morning. | Mr Hazare, 76, began an "indefinite" hunger strike at his Ralegan Siddhi village in the western state of Maharashtra on Tuesday morning. |
| Nearly 5,000 people, mostly locals, gathered around Mr Hazare when he began his fast, a local journalist told BBC Hindi. | Nearly 5,000 people, mostly locals, gathered around Mr Hazare when he began his fast, a local journalist told BBC Hindi. |
| Mr Hazare told reporters ahead of the fast that the ruling Congress party had "betrayed" him as it failed to get the bill passed in the parliament. | Mr Hazare told reporters ahead of the fast that the ruling Congress party had "betrayed" him as it failed to get the bill passed in the parliament. |
| "When I withdrew my agitation in Delhi I was given a letter by the Congress saying this bill will be passed but it has not happened yet. I am left with no choice but to sit on a hunger strike," he said. | "When I withdrew my agitation in Delhi I was given a letter by the Congress saying this bill will be passed but it has not happened yet. I am left with no choice but to sit on a hunger strike," he said. |
| Earlier this week, Arvind Kejriwal, a top aide of Mr Hazare in the anti-corruption campaign, led his year-old Aam Aadmi Party to a surprise strong showing in the Delhi state elections, winning 28 of the 70 seats. | Earlier this week, Arvind Kejriwal, a top aide of Mr Hazare in the anti-corruption campaign, led his year-old Aam Aadmi Party to a surprise strong showing in the Delhi state elections, winning 28 of the 70 seats. |
| Last year, the two campaigners parted ways over Mr Kejriwal's plans to enter politics, with Mr Hazare saying he preferred "sacred" agitation over politics, "which is full of dirt". | Last year, the two campaigners parted ways over Mr Kejriwal's plans to enter politics, with Mr Hazare saying he preferred "sacred" agitation over politics, "which is full of dirt". |
| Both are demanding the appointment of an independent anti-corruption ombudsman. | Both are demanding the appointment of an independent anti-corruption ombudsman. |
| In recent years, India has been hit by a string of high-profile corruption scandals including a telecoms bribery scam that may have cost the government $39bn (£23bn), alleged financial malpractice in connection with the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games and allegations that homes for war widows were diverted to civil servants. | In recent years, India has been hit by a string of high-profile corruption scandals including a telecoms bribery scam that may have cost the government $39bn (£23bn), alleged financial malpractice in connection with the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games and allegations that homes for war widows were diverted to civil servants. |
| Critics of the government say the scandals point to a pervasive culture of corruption in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's administration. | Critics of the government say the scandals point to a pervasive culture of corruption in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's administration. |