Thaindian News

Chennai, Dec 18 (IANS) Continuing to pressurize the government on the Lokpal bill, activist Anna Hazare Sunday said there should not be any more delay in passing the anti-corruption legislation.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a public meeting here, he said that a year had passed since they started their campaign for an effective ombudsman. There should be no further delay.

“It is one year since we started our agitation, for three months they held meetings with five of our (Team Anna) members, but there has been no result,” Hazare said.

“This is an insult to our country where Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev laid down their lives. … this (passing Lokpal bill) is taking more time, and it is not good,” he said.

Hazare also blamed the Parliamentary Standing Committee that studied the anti-graft legislation for ruining it despite the “sense of the house” (parliament) on three of his key demands.

“When I fasted in Ramlila ground, the prime minister gave it in writing that Lokayukta, Citizen’s Charter and all officers from top to bottom will be brought under Lokpal, that it it will be presented in parliament, and parliament will pass it unanimously.

“But when it went to the Standing Committee, the committee ruined it,” he said.