Indian anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare Sunday began a week-long vow of silence at his village in the state of Maharashtra, an aide said. Hazare, 74, had gone on a 13-day public hunger strike in New Delhi on August 16, sparking mass protests, with tens of thousands joining one of the country's biggest anti-government demonstrations in recent years.
Hazare would observe a "maun vrat" or vow of silence for the peace of his soul in his native Ralegaon Siddhi village, his aide Shyam Asava said.
Hazare would engage in his regular activities and communicate in writing if required, the aide said. He would not travel during the period.
Following the huge response to his fast and anti-corruption campaign, Hazare has been pursued by television journalists in his village.
Hazare has had to deal with several controversies arising from comments by his team members on Kashmir and support for his movement from right-wing Hindu organisations. The aide said Hazare, a follower of Mahatma Gandhi, periodically went on fasts and vows of silence for spiritual reasons.
The Congress party-led federal alliance, facing several corruption scandals, was put on the back foot and had to introduce a resolution in parliament for a tougher anti-corruption ombudsman's bill after Hazare went on his fast in August.
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