May have to revive agitation, says disappointed Hazare

Social activist Anna Hazare has said that he may have to revive the agitation on corruption that he had started at Jantar Mantar.

Hazare said he was disappointed with the government’s approach on the Lokpal Bill and accused it of going back on the promises it had made.

His comments came a day after strong differences emerged between the two camps in the meeting of the joint drafting panel.

The social activist said it seemed to him that the government was not interested in formulating a strong Lokpal Bill.

He said the proposal of forwarding two draft bills to the Cabinet was ridiculous as it defied the very logic of setting up of a joint drafting committee.

If the government had to send two drafts why did it waste time with the joint panel. There were already two drafts existing and the government could have sent them to the Cabinet, Hazare said.

Warning the Centre against passing a weak Lokpal Bill, Hazare said the civil society will not accept any dilution in the provisions of the bill.

Hazare said their fight for a strong Lokpal Bill will continue and if the government tried to push through a weak bill they would resort to agitation again..