Team Anna to end fast today

New Delhi, Aug 3 (ANI): Team Anna will call off their indefinite hunger strike at 5 p.m. today after nine days of fasting.

Veteran social activist Anna Hazare made the announcement in this regard on Thursday.

Addressing the gathering at the Jantar Mantar here, Hazare said he and his team are going to end their fast on Friday, and added that his aides want feedback within 48 hours on whether they should form a political party.

Asserting that power should rest with the people in a true democracy, Hazare yesterday reiterated that there is nothing wrong in forming a political party.

Hazare said power should be with the people of the country.

"In a true democracy, power should be in the hands of the people. The power must be given to the public. Village land, village water belongs to the village. There is a government in Delhi, but in the village, we are the government. Village has the right over coal, water in the village," he said.

Hazare asked his supporters to dislodge those leaders, who don't give in to people's demand.

He, however, said that he himself would not enter politics.

"I will not get into politics. I will fight from the outside. You have to think who goes into a party. Do they have a good character? Such people only should be given a ticket. If you want to change the nation, form a party. But see who is going into that party. How will you monitor them? You have to think about that," said Hazare.

"The people who ask for your votes, whether they are right or wrong, should be monitored," he added.

The 75-year-old social activist also reiterated that the government is not serious on bringing a strong anti-graft bill to combat rampant corruption in the country.

The government, however, hit back at Team Anna, saying they must contest elections to prove its claim of representing the will of the people.

Union Information Minister Ambika Soni yesterday said that the real intention of Team Anna stands exposed today following their statements indicating their intention to form a political party.

Ambika Soni said that a few of the members in the government always felt that members of the Anna team were inching towards active politics.

"We always said that Anna Hazare's people, who were supporting him, were always inspired by politics. This was indicated by many of the stances they took and a large number of incidents. We realized that they were working on a political agenda when they spoke about Members of Parliament, criticizing all of them and others holding constitutional posts" said Soni.

Ambika Soni further said Team Anna is welcome to form its own political party and contest the elections.

"I am glad it has come out in the open today. Now people know that this is really what they wanted, to set up a political party and to come and fight elections. This is a good thing. If they want to change the system, they must know how hard it is to be a public servant," she said.

Delhi Police on Wednesday sent a letter to Team Anna, asking Arvind Kejriwal, Gopal Rai and Manish Sisodia, who have been on fast since July 25 to agree to end their protest and be hospitalized. Hazare began his hunger strike July 29.

In its letter, the Delhi Police reminded Team Anna that in the affidavit submitted to it before the start of the agitation, there was a clause that said that the latter would be permitted to shift fasting team members to hospital if their medical condition turned critical.

The letter of the Delhi Police is based on the observations of a team of doctors from Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital.

Arvind Kejriwal yesterday accused the government of plotting a conspiracy against him, and said that he would be killed if taken to hospital for a medical check up.

Kejriwal, who refused to give his medical reports to government doctors, also hit out at the government for its indifferent attitude.

The standoff between the UPA and Team Anna intensified after the latter demanded the setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of retired judges of Supreme and High Courts, to probe charges of corruption against 15 cabinet ministers, including the Prime Minister. (ANI)