Thaindian News

New Delhi, April 18 (IANS) Social activist Anna Hazare Monday wrote to United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi that corrupt forces were trying to derail the process of drafting a new anti-graft law.

“The developments of the last few days have been a cause for concern. It seems that corrupt forces in the country have united to derail the process of drafting an effective anti-corruption law through the joint committee,” Anna Hazare said.

“Together we have to defeat their designs,” the activist urged Gandhi.

The letter comes in the wake of controversies surrounding a CD containing a purported telephonic conversation between co-chair of the joint committee for drafting the Lokpal Bill Shanti Bhushan, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and former Samajwadi party leader Amar Singh, allegedly about attempting to influence a judge.

“One of their strategies is to smear the reputations of the civil society members in the committee. Whereas I am of the view that the people working for public must be subjected to public scrutiny, however, when blatantly false accusations are made, fabricated CDs are planted, then one feels that the purpose is not an honest public scrutiny but to tarnish reputations,” Hazare said in his letter.

The social reformer also referred to the comments made by Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh, asking if Gandhi personally approved of his statements.

“One of the general secretaries of the Congress Party has been making many statements in the press in the last one week. I assume that he has the support of the party to make such remarks.”

“Most of these statements are factually wrong, which makes one believe whether his only intention is to create confusion, mislead people and derail the ongoing discussions in joint committee. Do you personally approve of his statements?” he asked.

Hazare added: “I would urge you to advise your colleagues not to try to derail the process of drafting the law. The country is in no mood to wait any longer to have strong anti-corruption law. People are very agitated. I fear of the consequences if the process were derailed.”

Digvijay Singh, participating in a TV panel discussion, Sunday said that Hazare was “surrounded by a coterie” and had made a mistake by praising Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.