Thaindian News

Ralegan Siddhi (Maharashtra), Sep 11 (IANS) Social crusader Anna Hazare Sunday warned here that he would launch another agitation if the Jan Lokpal bill was not made into a law soon.

Terming the government’s draft of the Lokpal Bill as “misleading”, Hazare said that the Jan Lokpal bill must be accepted, failing which he would launch his third round of agitation.

“Don’t oppose the Jan Lokpal bill. Those who oppose it must not be allowed to be re-elected,” Hazare thundered at the end of the two-day brainstorming session of Team Anna’s core committee here.

Hazare, who Saturday asked people to stage sit-ins outside homes of MPs opposing the Jan Lokpal bill, Sunday clarified that this must be done in a “peaceful, non-violent manner” and the crowds should chant Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite bhajan, “Raghupati Raghav Rajaram”.

Noting that his earlier two agitations were held at Jantar Mantar and Ramlila ground in New Delhi, he asked his team members to begin searching for another venue where he would launch the third phase of the anti-corruption agitation.

Hazare said that people from many other states also want him to intensify the agitation. “We are fighting for the future generations. Let more and more people join and go to jail… Jail and temples are equal for us,” he exhorted.

Hazare also directed his ire at the toll check posts in cities and highways which he termed as “scandalous”.

“Each toll post must prominently display the names and other details of the contractors who collect the huge toll amounts daily. After the full cost of the projects are recovered, toll collections must be stopped,” he demanded.

India Against Corruption chief Arvind Kejriwal said that Team Anna members would go to the masses and explain to them the minute details of the Jan Lokpal Bill and the government’s draft of the bill.

“We shall also explain to them in detail the opinion of various political parties on this issue and make them aware of the benefits of Jan Lokpal Bill,” Kejriwal said.

Hazare presided over the two-day conclave which was attended by Kejriwal, former police officer Kiran Bedi, jurist Shanti Bhushan and National Alliance of People’s Movement leader Medha Patkar, besides representatives of other organizations from all over India.

The conclave Saturday decided to write to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and solicit his views on an annual performance of all members of parliament.

The conclave also resolved to take up the issue of electoral reforms with Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Qureishi starting with incorporation of Right to Reject and Right to Recall candidates in forthcoming elections.