Prashant Bhushan, a member of the joint committee for drafting the Lokpal Bill on Wednesday said that referendum on the Lokpal Bill is an option for the government. He said that if the government feels that civil society groups are forcing their views on Lokpal, then the government should go for a referendum on the Lokpal Bill giving a choice between the Jan Lokpal Bill, drafted by the civil society and the Lokpal Bill drafted bythe government.

Earlier in the day, justice Santosh Hegde, another member of the committee, had alleged that the government was 'preventing' the drafting of a strong anti-corruption Bill.

Anna Hazare, who had been on a day long fast on Wednesday had said that he would go on a fast again from August 16 if the Lokpal Bill was not passed till then. He was on a day-long fast at Rajghat. He added that the government was not serious about implementing the Lokpal Bill.

"This is the new independence war against corruption," he said. Hazare said that in 1947 we just got independence but not real independence so we are striving for new independence.

Hazare added that the mindset of the government needed to change. "Government thinks that they are the ruler and we are servant," he said.

Criticising the government's crackdown at Baba Ramdev's supporters at 2 in the night, the activist said that "It is against human rights."

The activist added that the people of India have now woken up.

PTI adds:

Hazare on fast for 'second freedom struggle'

Taking on the government, civil rights activist Anna Hazare today went on a day-long fast at Rajghat, declaring that his agitation against corruption was the "second freedom struggle" and threatened another hunger strike from August 16 if Lokpal Bill is not passed by then.

He accused the government of putting "hurdles" in the drafting of Lokpal Bill and trying to defame the civil society members of the joint panel, such as Shanti Bhushan, Prashant Bhushan, Santosh Hegde and Arvind Kejriwal through a "discreet" campaign.

Hazare, joined by his associates and a few thousand supporters, went on the hunger strike to protest the police crackdown on Baba Ramdev's supporters during their agitation against corruption here on Saturday night, which he termed as a "blot on humanity" and attempt to "stifle democracy".

After paying floral tributes at Mahatma Gandhi's samadhi, he reached the protest site at around 10.20 am to a rousing welcome from supporters who assembled there amid heavy police presence.

"Mahatma Gandhi fought for our freedom but we are yet to achieve real independence. The second struggle of independence has started. We are ready to sacrifice our lives but will not buckle under pressure," Hazare said.

Mounting pressure on the government to quickly enact a law to curb corruption, he said he will launch an indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar here from August 16 if the Lokpal Bill is not passed by then.

Hazare's indefinite fast in April had evoked nationwide support forcing the government to set up a joint committee of civil society members and ministers to draft the bill.

Anna begins day-long fast at Rajghat

Civil rights activist Anna Hazare and his supporters on Wednesday began a day-long hunger strike at Rajghat to protest the police crackdown on Baba Ramdev's supporters during their agitation against corruption here on Saturday night.

After paying floral tributes at Mahatma Gandhi's samadhi, the Gandhian leader reached the protest site at around 10.20 am to a thunderous applause from around a thousand supporters who assembled there amid a large police presence.

Hazare chanted "Vande Mataram", "Bharat Mata ki Jai" and "Inqilab Zindabad", prompting the crowd to echo him. Civil society activists like Shanti Bhushan, Kiran Bedi, Swami Agnivesh and Arvind Kejriwal joined the protest.

Kejriwal said that except justice Santosh Hegde, all civil society members of the Lokpal Bill drafting panel will join the fast, which has been organised to protest the midnight crackdown on Ramdev's supporters that injured over 60 people.

With Delhi Police refusing permission for the day-long hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, Hazare had decided to shift the venue to Rajghat to avoid a confrontation.

Bedi told the gathering that this is the "second war of independence against corruption, extortion and bribery."

"I called Anna 'Gandhi' yesterday. It made some people very angry but large number of the people very happy. Why we have to sit here today? We didn't raise our voices against corruption earlier so we landed up here. We are not against politicians. We approached them, but they did not take up the struggle, so Anna had to take up the fight," she said.

Earlier, before the protest started, Hazare said the government is trying to "scare" people off the protest. The organisers claimed action on Ramdev supporters has created a "fear psychosis" among the people.

Asked whether he will seek security for himself, Hazare said he will never do so and he is not afraid of death.

"Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev never asked for security. If they would have done, our country would not be free," he said.

"The protest against injustice is not wrong. It leads to a successful democracy. If in such a situation you try to disrupt it, that's not right," he said.

Large presence of police personnel somewhat dented the enthusiasm of the protestors. Heavy barricading and police deployment prompted some of them to discuss conspiracy theories about the government plotting to thwart their plans.

Organisers claimed they got several calls from people asking whether police will take action. A senior police official said they have taken adequate security measures but did not "harass" anyone.

People who came to Rajghat were outraged over the crackdown on the Ramdev congregation. "That action was shameful. One should protest. I have left my house and business to join this agitation. If you don't have other means to raise your voice, the only option left is to hit the streets," said B S Negi, a retired Assam Rifles personnel who came to Delhi on June 3 for the Ramdev protest.

A number of supporters of Ramdev joined in the protest, including Swami Santoshanand, who shared dais with the yoga guru at Ramlila on June 4.

Gandhi lookalikes, tricolour-waving youths and volunteers wearing Gandhi caps added colour to the agitation.

Anti-corruption T-shirts worth Rs 150 recorded brisk sale.

The protest will be accompanied by an all-religion prayer meeting and a debate on Lokpal Bill.

GN Bureau adds:

While speaking at Rajghat, Arvind Kejriwal demanded that politicians should also put their wealth immediately on a website. He also asked parties to come clean on the money they have received in the last five years.

Earlier report:

People throng Rajghat to support Anna

People gathered in great numbers at Rajghat to take part in the day-long hunger strike called by Anna Hazare to protest against police crackdown on Baba Ramdev and his supporters during their agitation against corruption.

A number of youths wearing Gandhi caps and elderly people were seen at the spot waving the tricolour amidst a heavy posse of security personnel.

A man dressed like Mahatma Gandhi was the centre of attraction as he sang Gandhi's favourite bhajan 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram'.

With Delhi Police refusing permission for the day-long hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, Hazare had decided to shift the venue to Rajghat to avoid a confrontation.

Civil rights activists had contended that denial of permission to hold peaceful protest was against the basic Constitutional rights of citizens.

The Hazare-led protest will be accompanied by an all-religion prayer meeting and a debate on Lokpal Bill.

A senior police official yesterday said they have refused permission for the fast at Jantar Mantar due to prohibitory orders at the site after the police action against Baba Ramdev in Ramlila Maidan on Sunday.

Rights activist Arvind Kejriwal said except Justice Santosh Hegde, all civil society members of the Lokpal Bill drafting panel will join the fast.

Appealing to the people to come to the site, he said the agitation is a challenge to injustice and corruption.

"It is an assertion of our fundamental rights to assemble peacefully and protest. We will do it and we are ready to face the consequences. In a democracy, it is extremely important that whenever there is injustice, people should protest against it," he said.

Kejriwal said everyone is angry about the "kind of atrocities" committed on Saturday night on the supporters of Ramdev. "It was almost an assault on democracy," he said.

"It is a people's movement. We don't have committed cadres so I can't say how many people will join but I hope many will turn up. There is so much injustice in this country and people have been protesting against that. What happened on Saturday night, what message the government is giving is that we will indulge in corruption and if you raise your voice, you will be crushed," he said.

Kejriwal said in the evening, they will hold a consultation on Lokpal Bill with the people. "If their suggestions are good, we will take it to the joint drafting committee," he said. The civil society members will attend the next meeting of the panel on June 15, he added.