Crowds swell at Delhi venue as Hazare begins fast

Crowds at Anna Hazare's anti-corruption protest site, Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, swelled considerably on Sunday as the 75-year-old began his indefinite fast – his third over the period of a year – for a central corruption watchdog.

The crowds had been thin and lacklustre over the last few days, but on Sunday they grew to over 25,000 – perhaps largely because it was a holiday, and also because Hazare had begun his fast, with 350-400 people joining him.

Slogans like 'Inqalab Zindabaad'and 'Vande Matram' once again resounded across the ground, reminding one of the hugely successful fast during the monsoon session of Parliament last year, which forced the government to seriously consider a lokpal bill for an anti-corruption watchdog.

However, the protests by Hazare and his 'team Anna' have been losing steam and public support since then, prompting the government to put the bill on the back-burner.

In the evening, a rally of about 15,000 people marched from India Gate to Jantar Mantar, bringing the traffic to a standstill.

The government in response has decided to call for a meeting of its select committee on the bill. Union law minister Salman Khursheed told reporters, ''Regarding the lokpal bill, I would like to tell them (team Anna) that it is in the hands of Parliament now.''