(MENAFN- Gulf Times) An indefinite hunger strike by social activist Anna Hazare is set to continue after he reportedly found the draft sent by the government to address to his demands 'useless.
Hazare has been demanding the setting up of Lokpal, an autonomous, powerful anti-corruption agency.
He has also been demanding government help for distressed farmers.
'We have received the draft from the government. But Annaji said it was useless as it has nothing new but old assurances. It is a routine document. At least, one of the ministers should meet him, said Sushil Bhatt, a core committee member of Team Anna.
Hazare on Friday said he would hold discussions with the government during the protest but his 'satyagraha of an indefinite hunger strike would continue 'till the government comes out with a concrete action plan.
The second day of the agitation witnessed a steady flow of people coming to the iconic the Ramlila Maidan but most of them were farmers.
The protesters yesterday were largely from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab. There were some from Maharashtra and Rajasthan too.
The number will go up substantially today, said Bhatt.
Narendra Patil, son of Maharashtra farmer Dharma Patil, who committed suicide by consuming poison in the state secretariat in January this year, also participated in the agitation saying the government had not given the long-pending compensation even after the death of his father.
'Even after giving assurance in writing, the Maharashtra government has not fulfilled the promises it made to us after the death of my father. It is cheating. I have decided to join the agitation to bolster farmers' voice as the current dispensation is anti-farmer, Patil said.
Shivprasad Rajput, from Uttar Pradesh's Raebareli, said: 'We have neither ration at our homes nor money as we are under huge financial distress due to fall in prices. We see hope in Annaji. We will support him till our last breath. We will go back home only when our demands are accepted.
Meanwhile, in Chennai Pattali Makkal Katchi leader Anbumani Ramadoss demanded that the Tamil Nadu government set up anti-corruption body Lokayukta immediately.
Citing the Supreme Court's direction to chief secretaries of 12 states - including Tamil Nadu - to explain the reasons for not setting up Lokayukta, he said the state government should pass the necessary law immediately.
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