Team Anna is maligning us, says Congress

2:45 pm: Reacting to the reports of protests by NSUI members at the Team Anna fast venue, Congress leader V Narayanasamy said that the allegations were unfounded. "As far as Congress or NSUI is concerned, we are not a party of violence and follow democratic principles. The allegation is unfounded. It's unfortunate that they are making allegation against NSUI, which is not acceptable. They are trying to divert the attention of people. Team Anna is maligning us," he said.

1.48 pm: Congress leader Ambika Soni on Wednesday slammed Team Anna, saying "corruption charges against central ministers are not acceptable." "On a day when the whole nation is celebrating new President, there is no need for a fast. We are looking into the Lokpal issue."

1.33 pm: Team Anna member Sazia Ilmi has claimed that there is a threat to Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal and demanded more security at Jantar Mantar.

1.15 pm: Anna Hazare said the government was scared of a strong Lokpal Bill. "There is no intention on the part of government to bring a strong Lokpal," Anna said.

12:22 pm: National Students' Union of India (NSUI) created ruckus at Team Anna's fast at Jantar Mantar. Many NSUI supporters gathered at Jantar Mantar and staged protests against Team Anna. Police have detained some of them.

12:10 pm: Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare along with Arvind Kejriwal, Gopal Rai and Manish Sisodia arrived at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday.

11.58 am: In Bangalore, Indian Against Corruption (IAC) is conducting protests for a stronger Lokpal at the Freedom Park. Former Lokayukta Santosh Hegde is taking part in the protests, which is in support of Team Anna's protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

11.33 am: Social activist Anna Hazare on Wednesday said that the fast is not a pressure tactic. "We are going to Gandhi Samadhi. We will pray that government gets 'sadbudhi' (right path). We only want a strong Lokpal. At least four times, ministers have written to us saying that they want a strong Lokpal. This is not pressure tactics. This is 'Satyagraha'."

11.12 am: Team Anna member Kiran Bedi on Wednesday criticised government on the issue of corruption, saying "When a minister misappropriates or allows misappropriation to happen, it is policy. But when ordinary people do it, it is considered crime. 2G was policy, coal scam is policy."

11 am: Reacting to the Team Anna fast, Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar said that Team Anna has exhausted its relevance to the national politics. "And because they are quite irrelevant I have nothing else to say," he said.

10:45 am: Just before the start of an indefinite fast, Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal has tweeted, "मेरे सीने में नहीं,तो तेरे सीने में सही;हो कहीं भी आग,लेकिन आग जलनी चाहिए...Fight 2 make India Free from Corruption! Save India!Good Morning".

10:30 am: Many people who have come to the Team Anna's fast venue are from the India Against Corruption (IAC), NGOs and other social groups who have been working with the anti-corruption crusader in his fight against corruption. A majority of the common public gathered here don't have any idea about the issue.

9.20 am: Some supporters of Anna Hazare and his team started pouring in at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday morning. People mainly from India Against Corruption were seen at Jantar Mantar shouting slogans in support of Anna Hazare.