Another Anna salvo: Ready to face bullets for Lokpal Bill

The anti-corruption crusader said this in Pune when asked to comment on Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh’s remarks on his plans to go on a fast from August 16.

Digvijay Singh,however,denied saying the social activist would be given treatment similar to yoga guru Ramdev if he goes on a fast unto death.

“I am surprised and pained at reports in today’s newspapers which quoted me as saying the treatment given to Ramdev would also be meted out to Anna Hazare,” the Congress General Secretary told PTI in Bhopal.

Singh said that during his interaction with reporters yesterday in Jabalpur,he had said Congress has nothing to do with the manner in which either Hazare or Ramdev will be treated.

He said it was the prerogative of the local administration to act accordingly after assessing the prevailing situation.

The outspoken leader maintained if there was a need for a fast,the younger activists of civil society like Arvind Kejriwal or Prashant Bhushan should do it instead of Hazare.

Hazare,who was on his way to his village Ralegaon in Ahmednagar district,also wondered whether the present Congress party was the same that had links with Mahatma Gandhi and leaders like Kamraj.

Asserting that to protest is the democratic right of every citizen,Hazare said,“Congress seems determined to crush our agitation for a strong Lokpal. But it should be remembered now that it is not just Anna Hazare but the entire country that is supporting this agitation and the people will teach them a lesson.”