Hazare’s village erupts in joy

Residents of this village, glued to TV sets since morning, erupted in joy as one amongst them, Anna Hazare, called off his five-day old hunger strike after the government issued a gazette notification constituting a panel to draft an effective Lokpal Bill.

Residents of this village, glued to TV sets since morning, erupted in joy as one amongst them, Anna Hazare, called off his five-day old hunger strike after the government issued a gazette notification constituting a panel to draft an effective Lokpal Bill.

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"Anna is expected to reach here in the next few days. We have planned a grand welcome for him. A victory procession will be organised," Datta Awari, who handles Hazare's office here, said.

The villagers observed a bandh on Thursday to express solidarity with the social crusader, who was on an indefinite hunger strike in Delhi to press for the enactment of the anti-corruption bill.

Ralegan Siddhi villagers hoisted black flags or tied black cloth on 'gudis' (sticks) on 'Gudi Padva' (Marathi New Year) as a mark of protest on April 4, a day before Hazare began his fast. “Now we will celebrate the real 'Gudi Padva' after Hazare arrives here," Awari said.