Anna Hazare and his supporters will end their indefinite hunger strike for a stronger Lokpal Bill at 5 pm on Friday. The decision was taken after the deteriorating health of team members Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Gopal Rai. The trio had been on a fast since July 25.
Speaking to the supporters Hazare said there is two years left for the Lok Sabha polls and that they will travel across the country to find an alternative to the govt. Arvind Kejriwal said, ''We are being urged by public to give an alternative to the movement.''
According to CNN IBN, Congress minister Ambika Soni said, ""We were saying this from first day that Team Anna inspired by politics. It's good that their intentions are out in the open. It's best they come out and be part of the same system they abuse always. If they call off their fast, it's a good thing. Don't hold government to ransom. They have made their point and accusing the government of not bringing Lokpal is not true. It's passed in Lok Sabha and its now with Select Committee".
Earlier in the day, prominent citizens of the country including former army chief V.K. Singh, spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and film actor Anupam Kher had visited Jantar Mantar and urged Hazare to call off the fast.
Security at the Jantar Mantar was tightened post the Pune serial blasts on Wednesday night. "We stationed the bomb disposal squad there last night till early this morning," a police official at the venue said.
Team Anna went on a hunger strike to demand setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of retired judges of Supreme and High Courts, to probe charges of corruption against 15 cabinet ministers, including the Prime Minister.
They have also sought the transferring of cases against political party chiefs, which are being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to the SIT, in addition to setting up fast track courts to dispose of cases against lawmakers within six months.
With agency inputs
