Anna Hazare leaves Tihar jail to begin hunger strike

Amid crowd cheering and following him, Anna Hazare reached Rajghat on way to Ramlila Maidan from Tihar jail. He addresses his supporters after reaching the venue for protest. Thousands of people, many of them school children, thronged the Ramlila Maidan despite rains to support the social activist in his fight for a stringent anti-corruption law.

There were cheers and hail Anna slogans as the announcement was made that Hazare had left Tihar jail after three days and would slowly make his way to the Ramlila Maidan, via Mahatma Gandhi's memorial Rajghat and India Gate.

I will join you all people at Ramlila Maidan. We should not let this spirit die down. Our freedom struggle is incomplete till corruption is wiped out. We want corruption to be completely removed from India. The fight against corruption is far from over. The fight for freedom has started," said Hazare.

Emphasizing that this is India's second freedom struggle, Hazare thanking his supporters for the massive support said: "The second freedom struggle has started from August 16. India will not really be free until this movement is successful. This movement must not die."

Kiran Bedi, who was overseeing the arrangements at Ramlila Maidan, made regular requests to people to maintain calm and peace.
Hazare had planned to begin his fast for a stronger lokpal bill at the JP Park in the ITO area here Tuesday.