Terming the Centre’s assurances over appointing a Lokpal, Lokayukta and resolving farmer issues as “satisfactory”, Anti-Corruption Crusader Anna Hazare on Tuesday ended his week-long Indefinite Hunger Strike.
Anna Hazare’s decision came after a closed-door meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Ministers Radha Mohan Singh and Subhash Bhamre.
“I am satisfied with the results of this discussion and hence am ending my fast. Our demand was that an ombudsman was not being appointed despite the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act being passed in 2013. A letter from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has assured that steps were being taken in this direction as per the Supreme Court’s directives,” said the 81-year-old Hazare, addressing a joint press conference with Mr. Fadnavis in the evening.
Both the Centre and the State governments have taken full cognizance of Anna’s demands and conveyed to him the processes we have set in motion to implement them… I have conveyed to him the letter from the PMO which says that the process of appointing a Lokpal was in motion by the Centre and that a meeting of the search committee has been scheduled on February 13,” CM Fadnavis said.
Our interaction with media as #AnnaHazare ji breaks his fast at Ralegan Siddhi, a while ago… (Marathi)https://t.co/DNuwjKcc0L pic.twitter.com/9UIBPnyICO
— Devendra Fadnavis (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Dev_Fadnavis) February 5, 2019
CM added, “We have also accepted and are working on his [Mr. Hazare’s] demands that the Centre implement the Swaminathan Committee recommendations”. Centre also has taken a step to increase the minimum income of Farmers in form of PM Kisan Yojana in the Interim Budget 2019. Interim Budget 2019 Highlights: No tax for income below 5 lakh; higher allocation for MNREGA; yearly deposit in small farmers’ accounts
On the demand of Lokayukta:
Joint drafting committee to be constituted with the representatives from Government and other organisations.
And proposed bill to be tabled in next full Budget session of Maharashtra legislature.— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) February 5, 2019
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis meeting with Anna Hazare came a day after Social Activist Anna Hazare threatened to return the Padma Bhushan.
Maharastra CM Devendra Fadnavis told Media on Tuesday, ‘We request Anna to call off fast. We have agreed to almost all of his demands, especially the one related to Lokayukta and formation of a joint committee. We have said yes to it’.
We have also given a letter to Anna Hazare about the issues pertaining to the Central government. The Centre has taken steps on all the issues Anna has been demanding. He should withdraw his fast unto death without any hesitation. I have sent a letter making the similar request to him,” the said Yesterday
Ahead of Lok Sabha Polls 2019, The Maharashtra Cabinet last week decided to bring the office of Maharashtra Chief Minister under the jurisdiction of Lokayukta. Anna Hazare has started his Indefinite Hunger Strike Wednesday last week demanding the formation of Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in the states. He was also demanding the Implementation of Swaminathan Committee Recommendations.