Anna Hazare leaves Tihar jail to begin hunger strike

Amid crowd cheering and following him, Anna Hazare reached Rajghat on way to Ramlila Maidan from Tihar jail. He addresses his supporters after reaching the venue for protest. Thousands of people, many of them school children, thronged the Ramlila Maidan despite rains to support the social activist in his fight for a stringent anti-corruption law.

There were cheers and hail Anna slogans as the announcement was made that Hazare had left Tihar jail after three days and would slowly make his way to the Ramlila Maidan, via Mahatma Gandhi's memorial Rajghat and India Gate.

I will join you all people at Ramlila Maidan. We should not let this spirit die down. Our freedom struggle is incomplete till corruption is wiped out. We want corruption to be completely removed from India. The fight against corruption is far from over. The fight for freedom has started," said Hazare.

Emphasizing that this is India's second freedom struggle, Hazare thanking his supporters for the massive support said: "The second freedom struggle has started from August 16. India will not really be free until this movement is successful. This movement must not die."

Kiran Bedi, who was overseeing the arrangements at Ramlila Maidan, made regular requests to people to maintain calm and peace.
Hazare had planned to begin his fast for a stronger lokpal bill at the JP Park in the ITO area here Tuesday.

Kejriwal: Anna to leave Tihar jail today

Civil society activist Anna Hazare will leave Tihar Jail for Ramlila ground around 11 a.m. Friday where he will continue his fast for a stronger anti-corruption bill, his aide Arvind Kejriwal said.

Supporters of veteran Indian social activist Anna Hazare hold his portrait as they wait for Hazare to leave Tihar jail in New Delhi August 18, 2011. India's beleaguered government caved in to popular fury over corruption on Wednesday after thousands protested across the country, granting permission for a self-styled Gandhian crusader to stage a 15-day hunger strike in public.

He added, 'The crowds gathered to support Anna Hazare are spiritual, and there have been no incidents of violence so far in the country where political rallies turn violent easily,' Kejriwal said.'We've asked all our supporters that if they see anyone indulging in unsocial behaviour, they should immediately report to police.'

Hazare, 74, had planned to begin his fast for a stronger Lokpal Bill at the J.P. Park in the ITO area Tuesday.