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Summary Indian anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare ended his 13-day hunger strike on Sunday.
He ended the fast a day after parliament agreed to consider his demands over proposed legislation.Hazare took sips of coconut water mixed with honey on a stage in New Delhi in front of tens of thousands of cheering supporters, before delivering a speech broadcast live on national television.This is your victory. This is the fruit of your work in the last 13 days, Hazare told the crowd, filled with supporters wearing the white cloth caps, reminiscent of Indias independence leaders, that have become the protests signature.This protest has been a lesson for the world, Hazare told the crowds after his peaceful campaign tapped into massive support among Indias urban middle classes and rural poor.Today corruption is increasing because power is centralised in the government ministries.Hazare, who was later taken to the hospital, said that though he had ended his fast, he would not back down from his fight for reforms. He lost more than 15.5 pounds (7 kilograms) during his fast.This movement has made it seem possible that we can build a corruption-free India, Hazare said, surrounded by children on a stage above the crowd. He said to make India corruption-free, there is a need to change the electoral system. He said the ballot papers should have the provision of rejection to reject one or all candidates whom the voter deems corrupt or unsuitable. Hazare began his fast Aug. 16 demanding Parliament pass his sweeping proposal to create a powerful anti-corruption ombudsman to police everyone from the prime minister to the lowest village bureaucrat.Arvind Kejriwal, a senior organiser of Hazares protest, told the rally that the fast had been an expression of the nations public feelings against corruption.We are thankful to the Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh), he showed remarkable leadership yesterday in the parliament. We are also thankful to all the parliamentarians for listening to the voice of the common man, he said.The entire country had poured out on the streets, their anger over a corrupt system was boiling over.Indias parliament expressed support on Saturday for tougher anti-corruption legislation, the finance minister said, meeting key demands set by social activist to end his two-week hunger strike against graft.Anna Hazare’s supporters from all walks of life gathered in the ground where he has been staging a hunger sit-in. He broke the fast amidst an atmosphere of festivity.
