Three days after he shook the government and sparked popular protests, social activist Anna Hazare finally walked out of Tihar Jail on Friday. He will continue his fast at the Ramlila Maidan. He spent a third night at Tihar with his supporters continuing to rally for him outside.
From Tihar he will head to Ramlila Grounds to continue with his fast for another 15 days. Anna is expected to reach the fast venue post-noon.
“Anna will go to Rajghat first, then he will go to Ramlila Maidan,” Arvind Kejriwal said on Friday morning.
“Anna will go to Mayapuri Chowk and then to Rajghat. Then he will go to India Gate, Vijay Chowk and then to Ramleela Maidan,” said Kiran Bedi.
“Anna is on a dharna because he was taken into custody for no reason and then let off. Anna would have gone to Ramlila Maidan if the the ground was ready,” she added.
Earlier, Delhi Police had claimed that the Ramlila Maidan was ready on Thursday, but Anna was advised by his team members to wait as they felt the preparations weren’t enough.
Outside Tihar on Friday morning, a part of the entrance has been blocked to facilitate Anna’s exit. But supporters remained jubilant through the night, singing songs and chanting slogans.
POLICE GEARS UP FOR ANNA EXIT
Also, there will more police presence around the routes that Anna would be taking to reach Ramlila Maidan.
Route that Anna will take: Tihar – Delhi Cantt – Narayana – Dhaula Kuan – Outer Ring Road – Shankar Road – Mandir Marg – Outer CP – Minto Road – India Gate – Bahadur Shah Jafar Marg – Shaheed Park – Rajghat – Ramlila Maidan.
Hundreds of Hazare’s supporters too have been camping outside the Tihar premises since Tuesday when the anti-corruption activist was taken to the prison after his arrest.
After two days of hard negotiations, the stand-off between the Gandhian and the government ended early on Thursday with the two sides agreeing that Hazare will undertake a fast for 15 days at the Ramlila Ground subject to certain conditions.
Hazare got from Delhi Police the spacious Ramlila Ground for his fast instead of the smaller JP Park. Significantly, Team Hazare made it clear that his fast would not be a fast-unto-death and he will be on hunger strike only till his health permits.
Hazare, 73, in a video shot inside Tihar Jail, said the protests by “all my brothers and sisters, the elderly and the children” is giving him a “new energy” for his fast.
He said people were fed up of corruption and the government should not take long to bring a strong Lokpal Bill.
Hazare, who is on the third day of his fast inside Tihar jail, also said he is not “tired” at all.
