Crowd Cheers Anna as he walks out of Jail

Agencies

New Delhi, 19 August 2011: Three days after he shook the government and sparked popular protests, social activist Anna Hazare finally walked out of Tihar Jail amid loud cheers. Anna’s jubilant supporters sang songs and chanted slogans as he stepped out of the jail at around 11:40 am on Friday. From Tihar, Anna will head to Ramlila Maidan through India Gate and Rajghat.

 

"The fight for freedom has started," said Anna Hazare as he addressed his supporters outside Tihar Jail."Gandhiji wanted this country to be free. India is still not independent, the struggle started on august 16. We should nOt let this spirit die down," he said. "We want the corruption to be completely removed from the country. I want people to join me at Ramlila Maidan. Our efforts should be to cause no inconvenience to anyone and gather peacefully at Ramlila Maidan," he said.

 

From Tihar he will head to Ramlila Grounds where he continue with his fast for another 15 days. He spent three nights at Tihar with his supporters continuing to rally for him outside. 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.

 

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.