Shiv Sena chief calls on Hazare to end his fast

Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray yesterday wrote to Anna Hazare, requesting him to break his fast in view of his deteriorating health. The request came ahead of an all-political party meeting convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi to resolve the crisis surrounding the Gandhian's agitation.
"The nation has woken up by your fast. The government has begun to act. At least now you should pay attention to your deteriorating health and break your fast… After you break your fast, let the likes of [Arvind] Kejriwal, [Kiran] Bedi and [Manish] Sisodia continue with the fast," Thackeray said in his letter to Hazare.

‘Precious life'

In his two-page letter, the Sena chief stated: "The reports of your deteriorating health are a cause for serious concern. You have announced that you won't mind dying for the great cause. But, your foregoing your precious life would mean a victory of those against whom you are waging this war against corruption. It is in this context that I am asking you to break your fast".


As Hazare's fast entered a ninth day, Shiv Sena's senior leader and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut met the anti-corruption crusader at the Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi and handed over Thackeray's two-page letter to the anti-corruption crusader.

"You will recall, you had met me at my Matoshri residence in Mumbai on October 4, 1996. At that time, we had a detailed discussion on the corruption issue. During the discussion, I had assured you that I would work towards eradicating corruption from the country," Thackeray told Hazare in his letter.
"You had later told media persons that the Shiv Sena chief is the only ray of hope and only he could dare root out corruption,." Thackeray wrote.

Reservations

Releasing the letter written by his father at a news conference here, Shiv Sena's executive president Uddhav Thackeray said the fact that the Sena chief had requested Hazare did not mean that the party was supporting the Jan Lok Pal bill.
"We do have some reservations about the bill drafted by the team Anna. In the bill, there is no provision on how to deal with a Lok Pal if he himself is found to be corrupt. We will take a call on the bill after the all-party meeting called by the prime minister," Uddhav said.