Thaindian News

New Delhi, Apr 6 (ANI): Veteran social activist Anna Hazare, who is on a fast-unto-death for enactment of an anti-corruption bill to give wider powers to the Ombudsman, has written a letter to the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, saying that his government is misleading the nation.

72-year-old Hazare in his letter to Dr. Singh said: “It is being said that the government wants to talk to us and we are not talking to them. This is utterly false. Tell me a single meeting when you called us and we did not come. We strongly believe in dialogue and engagement. Kindly do not mislead the country by saying that we are shunning dialogue.”

“It is being alleged that I am being instigated by some people to sit on this fast I am not a kid that I could be “instigated” into going on an indefinite fast. I am a fiercely independent person. I take advice from many friends and critics, but do what my conscience directs me to do. It is my experience that when cornered, governments resort to such malicious slandering. I am pained that the government, rather than addressing the issue of corruption, is trying to allege conspiracies, when there are none,” he added.

Hazare further said: “Very weak versions of Lokpal Bill were presented in Parliament eight times in last 42 years. Even these weak versions were not passed by Parliament. This means, left to themselves, the politicians and bureaucrats will never pass any law which subjects them to any kind of objective scrutiny. At a time, when the country has witnessed scams of unprecedented scale, the impatience of the entire country is justified. And we call upon you, not to look for precedents, but show courage to take unprecedented steps.”

“What are we asking for? We are not saying that you should accept the Bill drafted by us. But kindly create a credible platform for discussions - a joint committee with at least half members from civil society suggested by us. Your spokespersons are misleading the nation when they say that there is no precedent for setting up a joint committee,” he added.

Hazare today criticized the Congress for ‘misleading’ the people by dubbing his agitation unnecessary and premature.

“The party’s (Congress) statement is misleading people. Why is this agitation unnecessary and how is it premature? 42 years the nation has been in need of such a Bill. Why can’t the government enact it?” said Hazare.

“I will observe fast-unto-death till the government agrees to form a joint committee comprising 50 per cent officials and the remaining citizens and intellectuals to draft the Jan Lokpal Bill,” he added. (ANI)