Anna Hazare's hunger strike enters second day

Activist Anna Hazare's indefinite hunger strike to press for the passage of Jan Lokpal Bill entered the second day on Wednesday.

Activist Anna Hazare's indefinite hunger strike to press for the passage of Jan Lokpal Bill entered the second day on Wednesday.

76-year-old Hazare continues his fast at his village here braving the cold weather in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district.

The anti-graft crusader is on hunger strike near the Yadavbaba temple in the village, under the banner of Jantantra Morcha.

Hazare's medical test stated his blood pressure is above normal and he has also lost 0.9 kg weight since yesterday, his associate Suresh Pathare said.

The Jan Lokpal Bill, or the Citizen's Ombudsman Bill, is an anti-graft legislation drafted by civil society activists, seeking appointment of an independent panel to investigate cases of corruption.

Union Minister of State for Personnel V Narayanasamy had yesterday said the government was serious about passing the Bill during the current session of Parliament itself and had even given a notice to Rajya Sabha Chairman in this regard.

"As far as the Lokpal Bill is concerned I have given notice to Chairman Rajya Sabha for taking up the Lokpal bill. Government is taking all sincere step to pass the Lokpal bill," he had told reporters outside Parliament.

When Hazare's attention was drawn to Narayanasamy's statement, he had said, "the government should keep its word."

The septuagenarian said his fast would continue till the time Jan Lokpal bill was passed.