Anna Hazare ended strike after govt agreed to his demands

New Delhi, March 29: Social activist Anna Hazare on Thursday called off his hunger strike after the Central government "in principle" agreed to his demands but refrained from providing a roadmap on the implementation in a time-bound manner.

A delegation of ministers led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met Hazare on Thursday evening and informed him that the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) was "positive" about the demands of setting up of a Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in the states, implementation of the M.S. Swaminathan Committee report for fair crop prices and new electoral reforms.

Subsequently, Hazare broke his seven-day long fast with a glass of juice in presence of Fadnavis, Union Minister of State for Agriculture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan among others.

"The government has agreed to give 1.5 times the input cost (for agricultural produce). Also, government has said the Lokpal would be appointed soon. It says the electoral reforms come under the Election Commission's jurisdiction," Hazare told the gathering of around 3,000 protestors at the iconic Ramlila Maidan.