Social crusader Anna Hazare has withdrawn his proposed hunger strike at the temple town of Alandi slated from Saturday. Hazare has withdrawn the fast after assurance from Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on meeting his demands. Anil Sharma,secretary to Hazare,said the government has assured to provide Rs 500 crore soft loan to cooperative societies in the state. "Because of this decision,hundreds of coperative societies who have been in gasping for breath will get a new lease of life," he said. Sharma said the government has also promised effective action against illicit liquor dens located in rural areas the state. "Anna has demanded that these dens should be done away with and the government has promised to take necessary action," he said. Sharma said the government has also decided to push for amendment to the Act to make it mandatory for government officers to declare their wealth. "The state has promised to initiate measures to amend the Act which will make it compulsory for government officials to declare their wealth," he said. Three years back,Hazare had undertaken a fast at Alandi protesting,among other things,Central Government's attempts to keep file notings outside the purview of the Right to Information Act. Only after the Prime Minister's assurance,Hazare had withdrawn the fast which was described a moral victory for social crusader.
