Kejriwal to end 14-day fast today

New Delhi (IANS): Activist-turned-politician Arvind Kejriwal, who is on a hunger strike against "inflated" electricity and water bills in Delhi, on Friday announced that he would break his fast on Saturday 5 pm, after 14 days of surviving only on water.

"April 6 is a very auspicious day as Mahatma Gandhiji broke the salt law in 1930 after the Dandi March to launch the civil disobedience movement. I will break my fast at 5 pm on Saturday," Kejriwal said. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader is on a hunger strike since March 23 against the allegedly inflated water and power bills.

Kejriwal also said that he wished Anna Hazare would end his 14-day hunger strike. "I wanted to break my fast with Anna Hazare but he is busy with his nationwide tour. He has sent his blessings," said a visibly weak Kejriwal. Addressing AAP supporters, he said: "Nearly 10.5 lakh people have signed the petition agreeing that the government is fleecing them with inflated electricity and water bill."

"More than the number of people who voted for her (Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit) is now asking her to reduce the rates of electricity and water. If she believes in democracy, I think she should do what they are asking," he said.

Hinting about the next stage of his protest, Kejriwal said the volunteers of AAP would help residents of Delhi to reconnect the power supply to homes which are without electricity because of unpaid bills. "The party's volunteers would go door-to-door for restoring electricity connections of poor people in Delhi," he added.