Jan Lokpal Bill: Anna Hazare to fast; says Congress went back on its promise & paid heavy price

NEW DELHI: Slamming the government for betraying people's confidence, social activist Anna Hazare on Monday said that he would fast from December 10 for the Jan Lokpal Bill to be introduced in the Parliament's Winter Session. " Congress went back on promise on Janlokpal Bill and paid a heavy price for it by losing the state assembly elections," Hazare slammed.

Hazare said one of the major reasons for the drubbing the Congress got in the just-concluded elections to four states was its failure to get the Janlokpal Bill passed.

"Congress betrayed the people who responded appropriately," he told reporters.

"In this winter session of Parliament, government must bring the Jan Lokpal Bill. For this we are going to sit on a fast," Hazare said. "I sat on fast. The government assured it would bring Jan Lokpal. They requested me to break my fast. I didn't know they would betray," he hit out.

"I am going on a fast and will not break it till Jan Lok Pal Bill is not a reality. Reassurances by the government wont do," he reiterated. "The Jan Lokpal Bill is stuck in Rajya Sabha for the last 1 year. Government has deceived the people repeatedly," he added.

Expressing his discontent with the casual attitude of the government, Hazare said, "I keep getting letters from PMO saying why the Jan Lokpal bill could not be brought up in the Parliament."

Hazare said when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh can pledge to get the communal violence bill passed in Parliament, why can't he do the same for the much-delayed anti-graft law. "If other bills can be passed, then why not Jan Lokpal," he asked.

Hazare will be sitting on an indefinite hunger strike from December 10 at Ralegan Siddhi instead of Ramlila Ground in Delhi. Hazare had earlier said the agitation would be organised under the banner of his newly-formed organisation, Jantantra Morcha. "We have held over 700 rallies in seven states in the past six months under the organisation to mobilise people."

The Gandhian attacked both Congress-led UPA and the opposition for having "anti-youth, anti-student, anti-village and anti-poor" economic policies.

"Instead of bringing in multi-national companies, the government should focus on developing village and generate employment there as Gandhiji had said that India won't develop until its villages are developed," Hazare said.