New Delhi: Anna Hazare will come out of Tihar Jail at 11 am and will go to Rajghat, the samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi and India Gate before he launches his fortnight long protest from Ramlila Grounds.
73-year-old Hazare, who is on fast for the fourth day and had spent the last three nights in Tihar jail, will address the crowd of supporters that have been thronging outside the prison complex for the last four days.
Hazare's associate Kiran Bedi told reporters that he will go in a procession from the jail to Mayapuri, distance of about four-five kms and then drive down to Rajghat. From there he will go to India Gate in central Delhi before moving to Ramlila Grounds, a short distance from there.
She appealed to the supporters not to block roads and traffic.
Live update from Tihar:
9:45 am: "He'll (Hazare) address the gathering once he comes out of jail and leave for Ramlila ground. He should leave Tihar jail around 11 a.m.," Kejriwal told a news channel.
"The crowds gathered to support Anna Hazare are spiritual, and there have been no incidents of violence so far in the country where political rallies turn violent easily," Kejriwal said.
"We've asked all our supporters that if they see anyone indulging in unsocial behaviour, they should immediately report to police," he added.
9:30 am: Kiran Bedi addresses suuporters outside Tihar Jail and tells people about Anna's plan to leave Tihar and visit Rajghat, India Gate before heading for Ramlila Maidan. Kiran Bedi asks people not to disrupt traffic on Delhi roads. Anna will move in a procession for some distance.
9 am: Bollywood actor Nana Patekar reaches Tihar to meet Anna Hazare.
9 am: Preparations were on in full swing at Ramlila ground here where Gandhian activist Anna Hazare will continue his fast for a stronger anti-corruption bill.
9 am: A small tent was erected in the sprawling ground, most of which was wet due to the recent rains.
9 am: An image of Mahatma Gandhi was placed right behind the stage where Hazare will sit.
9 am: Loudspeakers were in place and bhajans were being played. A mobile toilet and water tanks had been installed.
9 am: The ground was dotted with police personnel, volunteers and the media.
8:30 am: Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran bedi visit Ramlila to oversee the preparations at Ramlila Maidan.
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.
73-year-old Hazare, 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.
The government on Thursday finally blinked and allowed the fasting Anna Hazare to hold his indefinite hunger strike at the spacious Ramlila Maidan.
As tens of thousands of people continued to take to the streets in town after town in support of Hazare's call for an effective anti-corruption legislation, the authorities gave in and said he could fast for 15 days.
Hazare wanted to fast indefinitely while the government wanted him to end his protest within three days. It then agreed to a seven-day fast and now, much later, to a fortnight-long hunger strike.
Hazare, the 74-year-old Gandhian activist who has become a rallying figure for a nation-wide anti-corruption mass movement, spent Thursday night at the Tihar jail complex and will shift to Ramlila Maidan today afternoon.
Hazare was arrested on Tuesday morning and was released in the night under mounting public pressure but continued to stay in jail.
An elated Hazare who began his fast on Tuesday soon after his detention, retorted that he would not give up till his version of the Lokpal Bill was passed by parliament.
"I will not stop fighting till I get the Lokpal Bill," the former soldier said in a televised message, as thousands of cheering supporters massed at the Ramlila Ground at the edge of Old Delhi.
"My health is fine, don't worry about me. I am not feeling tired. Tonight I will be here (in jail), and tomorrow I will meet you all."
However, some members of Team Anna have indicated that a middle way could be found which could accommodate some of their key demands, if not all of them.
The government's U-turn came after intense negotiations between Team Anna and Delhi Police for two days after Hazare refused to leave Tihar Jail despite being released within hours of his arrest.
Delhi Police had earlier put restrictions, including on the number of people who could take part in the Hazare fast that was originally to take place in a smaller park not far from Ramlila ground.
"I am very happy that ultimately good sense has prevailed on the government and it has agreed to permit Anna to fast for 15 days," said one of his closest aides, former law minister Shanti Bhushan.
"That shows Anna was never unreasonable in his demands," he added.
He said it "would be wise for the government to withdraw its bill from parliament and move a fresh (Hazare-backed)) bill after talking to Anna".
On Thursday, even the Ramlila ground was being readied, Hazare supporters poured in, waving handwritten posters and Indian flags.
Many formed small and big groups, raised slogans praising the Gandhian and slamming the government.
"We have been here since last night waiting for our leader. The battle has begun for a corruption-free India, and we'll fight till our last breath," said Raman Jha, who had come from Bihar.
Mass protests were reported from dozens of towns and cities, including Mumbai, where too thousands thronged Azad Maidan in the heart of the city.
Processions and demonstrations, most participants being students, were reported from Kolkata, Jammu, Jalgaon, Chennai, Banglaore, Guwahati, Pune, Panjim and Ranchi.
Indians also rallied in small groups abroad in Britain and the US.
The Congress party, which had taken an aggressive line against Hazare until Wednesday, fell quiet. The Congress has come under attack both from protestors and opposition parties.
Home Secretary R.K. Singh said Hazare had been permitted to hold his hunger strike till Sep 2.
Asked if Delhi Police had handled the matter well, he said it was not a question of victory or defeat for anyone.
Hazare, an anti-corruption crusader, fasted for five days here in April, forcing the government to set up a 10-member team that included him to frame a Lokpal Bill.
But Team Anna and the government parted ways soon following serious differences over the official-sponsored anti-corruption bill that excludes the prime minister, the judiciary and junior government officials.
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