Lokpal Bill: Anna Hazare puts Congress on notice again

“If the Jan Lokpal Bill is not passed in the Winter Session,then I will name the Congress and ask people not to vote for it in the Assembly polls scheduled in five states next year,” he said while addressing a press conference in his native village Ralegan Siddhi.

He announced that he would begin his tour of five election-bound states — Uttar Pradesh,Uttarakhand,Punjab,Goa and Manipur — between October 13 and 15.

The anti-corruption crusader,who had withdrawn his 12-day hunger strike in Ramlila Maidan following assurances from the Centre that three of his main demands would be considered,made it clear that his agitation would be intensified across the country in the coming months.

He said he will undertake a fast in Lucknow three days before election commences in Uttar Pradesh if the Centre does not pass his version of the Bill in the Winter Session.

The Gandhian said he will try to visit Hisar in the coming days and if he cannot do so,he will send a video message appealing to people “not to vote for Congress as they are deliberately not bringing the Jan Lokpal Bill”.

He said he has got letters from BJP chief Nitin Gadkari and others supporting Jan Lokpal Bill but not from Congress.

The activist said he will wait for Congress’ letter for two more and will start his campaign if the party fails to do so.

“We will oppose the Congress… They sent me to jail… Does it behoove a government to attack innocents in Ramdev’s camp in Ramlila Maidan?” he asked.

He said he will not ask people to vote for any particular candidate but will appeal to vote for clean candidates.

Asked whether he would support a clean candidate from Congress even if the Jan Lokpal Bill is not passed in the Winter Session,Hazare said he will appeal to people to vote for candidates other than from Congress.

“What is the purpose of a clean candidate if the party is not right? Is Manmohan Singh not clean? The problem is that he is remote-controlled,” he said.

“Even if the individual is clean,it does not make much difference when the party issues a whip. So,it is the party that matters. We have to make Jan Lokpal Bill an issue. One should not vote for Congress,” activist Arvind Kejriwal said.

When asked if he feared that he would be targeted as a BJP supporter,Hazare said those who raise such allegations should be sent to mental hospital.

“In my whole life,not a single instance has shown that I had been associated with BJP or RSS. I have never attended a single meeting (of BJP or RSS),” he said.

He said Hazare was not supporting anybody and it was for the local people to decide whom they should vote for.

He said Hazare’s movement was “political” but it was above electoral and party politics. “We are not fighting elections. This is not an acid test for us. The fight is against corruption,” Kejriwal added.

Replying to a question on reservations of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on the Jan Lokpal Bill,Kejriwal said her opinion would not matter as she would be compelled to implement it after Parliament passes it.