Hazare visits Rajghat, takes police by surprise

New Delhi, Aug 15 (PTI) Taking authorities by surprise,
social activist Anna Hazare went to the Rajghat Monday where
he meditated for over two hours and chanted devotional songs
braving light rains with his supporters ahead of his proposed
protest against corruption from Tuesday.
Hazare spent about two and half hours at the memorial for
the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi late in the afternoon
when he "introspected" about some of the doubts lingering him
as he was about to embark on his protest.
Catching police unawares, the 74-year-old anti-corruption
crusader came to the memorial at around 4 pm after he confided
with a close aide that he wanted to go to the Rajghat. Police
rushed its personnel as soon as the news reached them. Hazare
was later joined by civil activists and his associates Arvind
Kejriwal and Prashant Bhushan.
After Hazare reached the Rajghat, an estimated 5000
people gathered there to watch him and often broke into
clapping and chanted 'bhajans' with him.
Later, Hazare told reporters that he visited Mahatma
Gandhi's samadhi to introspect whether the country has
attained real freedom or not.
Hazare and his supporters have been denied permission to
stage their protest at Jai Prakash Narain Park here by Delhi
Police.