Thaindian News

New Delhi, Dec 10 (IANS) Ahead of his day-long fast to press for a strong Lokpal bill, Anna Hazare Saturday said the Parliamentary Standing Committee looking into the draft legislation had “cheated” the country and he would campaign against the Congress in the next year’s assembly polls and the next Lok Sabha elections.

Talking to reporters here, Hazare said he suspected Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi to be behind the standing committee rejecting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s “assurance” to include the citizen’s charter, lower bureaucracy and establishment of Lokayuktas in the states.

“The issues were brought in parliament and a copy of consensus was also sent to me. After which I decided to end my fast (in August),” Hazare said.

“It is cheating with the entire country… Is it a government or grocery shop? The prime minister had given a letter that these three issues would be brought under the Lokpal bill… The prime minister’s letter was thrown into the dustbin. Why this politics?”

“There is somebody behind…We suspect Rahul Gandhi could be behind this… As without him this is not possible. That is why there are these problems,” Hazare said.

At one point, Hazare also said Team Anna will work with Gandhi in the future.

“Rahul Gandhi has to take a decision (on Lokpal) considering everyone’s stand on this issue. We will work with him in the future and I believe in the youth of this country,” said Hazare in response to a question.

“Many people believe that he will become the prime minister soon but if he doesn’t change his current views on this issue, it would be dangerous for the country,” Hazare added.

Asked if United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi was also responsible, Hazare said she was not well.

“She is not well. Her condition may deteriorate if we say anything,” he said.

Hazare, who will hold a day-log fast at Jantar Mantar Sunday, said he will resume his anti-corruption agitation from Dec 27 and campaign till the Lok Sabha elections.

He said his team will go to the poll-bound states and make people aware of Jan Lokpal bill and the stance of Congress.

“We will also tell them that what is the use of keeping those people in power who do not want to remove corruption from the country. We will continue to fight for the next two years. We will travel the whole country before the general elections to create awareness. Why retain those who have destroyed the country?” he said.

Even as Hazare attacked the Congress leaders and declared that his team will campaign against the party, his team member Prashant Bhushan said they will wait for the outcome of the bill in parliament before deciding their next course.

“We will see what kind of bill is passed in this session of parliament. And if right bill is not passed, then there will be movement in the entire country which will ask gram sabhas and the people of this country that which kind of rule should be framed,” he said.

The winter session of parliament concludes Dec 22.

Bhushan said several members of the Parliamengtary Standing Committee had given dissenting notes on the Lokpal draft.

Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal said panel chairman Abhishek Singhvi had mentioned that the panel was not working for any institution or individual but “by deciding to concede constitutional status to Lokpal, they have done it for Rahul Gandhi who talked about the same”.

He said that the committee had kept the Central Bureau of Investigation out of Lokpal and its report was in some respects even “weaker” than the earlier government draft bill.

Hazare added that the committee report was “weak” and “ineffective”.

“The government is not serious about eradicating corruption…Standing committee has betrayed the whole country. The poor are suffering and will not get justice till lower level officers (group C and D) are brought under the Lokpal,” he said.