Anna Hazare begins fast at Rajghat
PTI | Jun 8, 2011, 10.23am ISTNEW DELHI: Anna Hazare has started his day-long token fast at Rajghat to protest against police crackdown on Baba Ramdev and his supporters during their agitation against corruption.
Thousands of supporters of Anna Hazare have gathered at the Rajghat to sit on fast with him. Also present at Rajghat are civil society members Swami Agnivesh, Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi.
Delhi police have made elaborate security arrangements (deputing 1,000 Police personnel) to ensure that the day-long protest passes off peacefully.
Hazare had announced to undertake the day-long hunger strike at Jantar Mantar. However, with Delhi Police refusing permission, Hazare decided to shift the venue to Rajghat to avoid a confrontation.
Civil rights activists had contended that denial of permission to hold peaceful protest was against the basic Constitutional rights of citizens.
Supporters of Hazare had started gathering at Rajghat since morning.
A number of youths wearing Gandhi caps and elderly people were seen at the spot waving the tricolour amidst a heavy posse of security personnel.
A man dressed like Mahatma Gandhi was the centre of attraction as he sang Gandhi's favourite bhajan 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram'.
The Hazare-led protest will be accompanied by an all-religion prayer meeting and a debate on Lokpal Bill.
A senior Delhi police official said on Tuesday that they refused permission for the fast at Jantar Mantar due to prohibitory orders at the site after the police action against Baba Ramdev in Ramlila Maidan on Sunday.
Delhi police chief visited Rajghat early in the morning to review the security arrangements.
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