Social activist Hazare begins fast for a strong ombudsman, asks supporters to be ready for a long battle

Mumbai, Dec 27 (PTI) Social activist Anna Hazare today faced a low turnout as he launched a three-day fast against a "weak" Lokpal (Ombudsman) Bill asking people to be ready for an 'aar paar ki ladai' (fight to the finish) to stamp out corruption and to ensure that "goondas" (hoodlums) do not enter Parliament. 74-year-old Hazare, who sought to sidestep the appeal of his close aides to stop fast due to his health condition, said people will one day teach the government a lesson for the "betrayal" on the Lokpal issue. In contrast to the impressive gatherings at his three earlier protests in Delhi this year, the numbers were not upto expectations at the MMRDA grounds in Mumbai. Hazare repeated his threat to undertake a tour of five-poll bound states of the Indian Union, including the most populous northern state of Uttar Pradesh, and said he will campaign against the government and do the same when general elections are announced for Parliament. The commencement of Hazare's fast came as Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament, began a debate on the Lokpal bill with government side and opposition sparring over the issue. Terming his campaign as the country’s second freedom struggle, Hazare said the fight for a strong Lokpal will not end today and one has to fight a long battle. "You will not get the Lokpal Bill. You need to be ready for a long battle. The elections are coming in five states. After two and half years, the general elections will come. I will campaign against the government and tell people how they cheated us," he said. In Delhi, the protest by Hazare's supporters did not elicit much response due to winter chill as well as the activist's absence. Hazare was earlier scheduled to sit on fast at the Ramlila Maidan grounds in the city but shifted his venue to Mumbai due to the weather condition. Meanwhile, as Anna Hazare embarked on his fast in Mumbai and Team Anna held fort in Delhi, scattered protests by his supporters against a "weak" Lokpal Bill were reported elsewhere in the country. The supporters launched protest sit-ins in Chandigarh, Jammu, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore among other cities but reports suggested that the stir received a less than enthusiastic response. PTI Caption for pic: A doctor examining social activist Anna Hazare who began a three-day fast in Mumbai today in his fight for a strong Lokpal to curb corruption in the country. PTI Photo