Anna Hazare to Launch Indefinite Fast Jan 30, Seeks Immediate Lokayukta Implementation
88-year-old icon vows no retreat after Maharashtra government buries anti-corruption law.
In a chilling announcement that has sent shockwaves across Maharashtra’s political establishment, legendary anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare declared on Thursday that he will commence an indefinite fast unto death from January 30, 2026, from his native village, unless the Maharashtra Lokayukta Act — already passed by both Houses of the legislature — is immediately notified and implemented.
The 88-year-old Gandhian, whose 2011 Jantar Mantar agitation forced the Union government to table the Lokpal Bill, described the upcoming protest as his “last fight on earth.” He accused successive dispensations, including the current BJP-led alliance under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, of deliberately consigning the powerful anti-corruption ombudsman law to cold storage despite repeated assurances and legislative clearance.
Hazare revealed that the Maharashtra Lokayukta Bill was unanimously passed, a high-level committee constituted after his 2022 hunger strike drafted the final version, and the legislation was forwarded for Presidential assent — yet, years later, the Act remains unimplemented. He has personally written seven letters to Chief Minister Fadnavis since 2023, each met with stony silence, deepening his conviction that vested interests within the ruling dispensation are terrified of an independent Lokayukta.
Also Read: Maharashtra to Scrap Colonial-Era Pagdi System, Unlock Redevelopment of 19,000 Mumbai Buildings
Expressing profound anguish, the veteran activist told reporters that governance is meant exclusively for public welfare, not for shielding the corrupt or perpetuating power. “If a law meant to hold the Chief Minister and ministers accountable is buried, what message does the government send to 13 crore Maharashtrians?” he asked, declaring that deliberate delay constitutes nothing less than betrayal of democratic trust.
With fragile health notwithstanding, Anna Hazare has resolved that the fast beginning Republic Day weekend will continue until the Lokayukta Act is formally notified or until his last breath — whichever comes first. Supporters across the country have begun mobilising, warning that any harm to the national conscience-keeper will trigger a political storm Maharashtra has never witnessed before.
Also Read: Maharashtra’s Public Debt Set to Hit ₹9.32 Lakh Crore by March
