Anna Hazare?s anti-graft campaign to start from Varanasi

Gandhian social activist Anna Hazare will launch his nationwide campaign against corruption from the holy city of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh on Friday.

Hazare, who?s indefinite fast earlier this month led the Central government to accept to civilian participation in drafting of the Jan Lokpal Bill, will arrive in UP on a three-day visit on Friday.

Accompanied by former cop Kiran Bedi, RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal and Swami Agnivesh, Hazare will address a public rally in Varanasi on Friday evening.

He will address public rallies at Sultanpur and Lucknow over the next days in the first phase of his UP tour.

Informing about Hazare?s schedule, the organizers said Varanasi was chosen as the launch pad as it is among the most ancient cities and located in the country?s most populace state.

The organizers also dismissed suggestions that Hazare chose to launch the nationwide campaign from UP in response to Congress leader Digvijay Singh?s challenge to start the anti-corruption movement from this northern state.

Hazare and his companions will travel across the country to generate mass awareness against corruption and enlist public support in the campaign against corruption.