PUNE Sept 22: Even as Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray today suggested that the State Government may release social activist Anna Hazare from Yerawada jail, Chief Minister Manohar Joshi has said the Government is likely to take a decision on his release ``within two or three days.''Joshi said: ``I spoke to Balasaheb on the issue and share the view that there was no reason for Hazare to undergo imprisonment.'' He said the Government has the powers to curtail and waive the sentence.Hazare, after being sentenced by a metropolitan court here, had refused to avoid imprisonment in lieu of a Rs. 5,000 bond and an undertaking that he would not speak against anybody without proof. According to Sena mouthpiece Saamna, Thackeray said it would not be in the interests of the State Government to be at loggerheads with activists like Hazare. The Sena supremo added that differences among individuals is a natural phenomenon in politics and that his party had never opposed Hazare's crusade against corruption. ``We only oppose those, who in the guise of fighting corruption, are actually indulging in it,'' said Thackeray.Meanwhile, Hazare broke his penance on Tuesday evening after 2,000-odd prisoners went on a hunger strike in his support.Hazare called off his fast after the prioners refused to take food on Tuesday afternoon while demanding that he should withdraw his penanace, said Ralegan Siddhi sarpanch Ganapatrao Auti and Ashok Tanulkar of Ralegan Siddhi Parivar.In another development, the Bhrashtacharvirodhi Janandolan has clarified that the anti-corruption agitation would continue even after Chief Minister Manohar Joshi's announcement on Anna Hazare's release.In a press statement, Prof. G P Pradhan said that Government had not said anything about the corruption charges against Social Welfare Minister Babanrao Gholap. Stating that the Government was free to take any decision, Pradhan said the Government decision would not affect the agitation.
