Anna Hazare Leaves Tihar Jail to Fast at Ramlila Maidan

The India Against Corruption crusader Anna Hazare left Tihar jail to continue his fast at Ramlila Maidan for up to two weeks demanding bringing in of Jan Lok Pal Bill in place of government drafted Lok Pal Bill. Large crowds of people, many of whom had kept vigil outside Tihar Jail since Tuesday morning when Mr Hazare was arrested as a preventive measure, greeted him with loud cheers when he came out of the prison around mid-morning.

Thousands of people lined the streets and large numbers had gathered at Raj Ghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, where Mr Hazare stopped on his way to Ramlila Maidan. Addressing them, Mr Hazare vowed that he would continue the fight for the Jan Lokpal Bill, his version of the proposed anti-corruption legislation, to rid India of the evil. "I thank the people who have supported the protest against corruption. We have not achieved real freedom even after 64 years of Independence," he said.