RALEGAN-SIDDHI, July 29: Residents of Anna Hazare’s native village Ralegan-Siddhi in Maharashtra stood solidly behind the activist who on Sunday launched an indefinite hunger strike in Delhi in support of the anti-graft Jan Lokpal bill.

According to village head and close confidante of Hazare, Jaisingh Mapare, hundreds of villagers took out a morning rally to support the anti-corruption agitation in the national capital. This will be followed up by another rally, he added.

Mapare said that from Monday onwards, batches of villagers will sit on hunger strike to express solidarity with Hazare’s agitation.

On two previous occasions when Hazare, 75, resorted to hunger agitations, hundreds of Ralegan-Siddhi villagers, including women, also went on fast in support of the cause.

Team Anna members, led by Arvind Kejriwal, began an indefinite fast on Wednesday to press for a strong Jan Lokpal bill and demanding an inquiry into the allegations of corruption against over a dozen ministers. Hazare had said that he would join them on Sunday if the Government failed to take immediate steps to check corruption in high places.

Team Anna has permission to fast at Jantar Mantar observatory in central Delhi till August 8, the day the parliament’s monsoon session is expected to begin. This is Hazare’s third indefinite hunger strike demanding a Jan Lokpal bill. (IANS)