New Delhi, April 5 Veteran social activist Anna Hazare started his indefinite fast unto death on Tuesday to press for the demand to involve civil society in formulation of the anti-graft Lokpal (ombudsman) Bill.

Speaking after releasing the party's manifesto for the April-May West Bengal assembly polls here, he said: "Hazare's demand is for public good and deserves to be praised."

"With scams galore, the prime minister must come out with answers," he added.

Young students, housewives and office executives grouped in cities like Mumbai and Hyderabad. Mr Hazare in Delhi first visited Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Rajghat and then marched to Jantar Mantar accompanied by hundreds of supporters. School children waved the tricolour as he went by in an open jeep.

Earlier, Hazare said that the government which is corrupt in every way, will not succeed in stopping this law from passed and that he would leave no stone unturned to achieve this.