Fadnavis says government has accepted most of Anna Hazare’s demands, urges end to fast

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday appealed to social activist Anna Hazare to end his indefinite fast, saying the government had agreed to almost all of his demands. Hazare, who was protesting for the appointment of anti-corruption ombudsmen, had warned that he would return his Padma Bhushan award.

What the government offered

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event, Fadnavis said the government had accepted nearly all the demands, in particular the one concerning the Lokayukta and the setting up of a joint committee. He said he had sent Hazare a letter making the same request, and that the Centre had also taken steps on the issues relating to it.

Hazare had been fasting since January 30 at his village in Ahmednagar district, more than 240 km away, seeking a Lokpal at the Centre and a Lokayukta in Maharashtra. His other demand concerned farmers’ problems. Doctors said he had lost 4.25 kg since the previous Wednesday.

Politics around the protest

Hazare received separate visits that day from Raj Thackeray, who heads the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, and from water conservationist Rajendra Singh. Thackeray urged him not to give up his life for what he called a useless government.

Hours after the Shiv Sena appealed to the government to save Hazare’s life and took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the appointment of anti-graft watchdogs, Fadnavis accused some people of playing politics while Hazare’s health declined. He said some of those now visiting Hazare had criticised him in the past and were not truly concerned about his health. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, whose party was a BJP ally at the Centre and in the state, had backed Hazare on Sunday and urged him to lead an anti-corruption movement like Jayaprakash Narayan.

Lokayukta decision

The previous week the state cabinet decided to bring the chief minister’s office under the Lokayukta’s jurisdiction, along with ministers and opposition leaders, a move seen as building an anti-corruption message ahead of the elections.

See also: Shiv Sena (UBT) and political leaders

Originally published on 5 February 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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