Hazare to launch stir over OROP, Land Bill on Oct 2

Social activist Anna Hazare on Wednesday said he would launch an indefinite fast on October 2 in Delhi over the controversial Land Acquisition Bill and press for speedy implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) for defence personnel.

"I will launch the fast at Ramlila ground in Delhi on October 2," Hazare, who recently wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the twin issues, told reporters at his native village Ralegan Siddhi in Ahmednagar district.

The 78-year-old activist would be returning to the Ramlila maidan after a gap of over four years.

Hazare had spearheaded an agitation on implementation of Lokpal bill, sat on hunger strike with thousands joining the protests in June, 2011.

Hazare will honour widows and mothers of martyr defence personnel in Delhi on July 26 on the occasion of 'Shaheed Din'.

After this event, rallies of farmers and former defence personnel will be held all over the country on the issues of Land Acquisition Bill and OROP, Hazare said.

In the letter to Modi, Hazare said, "We have to take care of our soldiers and farmers. Making hollow announcements for their welfare and actually implementing them are different things."

In a democracy, the government should listen to woes of the people and redress them, he said. "I wish to reiterate that my agitation is not political," the anti-corruption crusader's letter stated.