Government ready to use force, fasting Hazare tells supporters

Joined by a large throng of people, veteran social activist Anna Hazare today went on a one-day fast at Rajghat in New Delhi to protest against the weekend midnight police crackdown on yoga guru Baba Ramdev and his supporters during their agitation against corruption.

Hazare on Tuesday resumed deliberations on the anti-corruption Lokpal Bill which he is spearheading; but he had made it clear that this would not affect the planned protest today.

A number of youths wearing Gandhi caps and elderly people were seen at the spot waving the tricolour amidst a heavy posse of security personnel. Rajghat is the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, leader of India's independence movement.

A man dressed as Gandhi was the centre of attraction as he sang Gandhi's favourite bhajan, 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram'.

Clad in white, the septuagenarian Hazare told his supporters, ''We have begun the second freedom movement to free the society from corruption. Though our great ancestors got us independence in 1947, we are still not really free as there remains a lot of injustice and corruption in society."

Criticising the government's crackdown on Baba Ramdev and his followers, Anna said that it was injustice and an attempt to crush people's right to protest. He compared the present government with the British rule, and asked his supporters if there was any difference.