'Won't approach govt on Jan Lokpal bill uninvited'

Hazare to undertake country-wide tour after expanding the Core Committee

PTI | March 15, 2012



Accusing the government of betraying him on the Jan Lokpal bill, Anna Hazare on Thursday said he would not approach them on this issue to fight corruption "uninvited".

The 74-year-old social activist also said he would decide on the future course of his Team's agitation in support of the Jan Lokpal Bill after meeting his team members in Delhi on Friday.

Addressing a function here, Hazare said he would not approach the Government "uninvited" on the Jan Lokpal bill.

"I will go to Delhi on Friday to attend a meeting of our team members to decide on future course of the agitation," he said.

"Once the future direction is fixed, I will set out on a nation-wide tour for a year-and-a-half to create awareness among the people on the issue. And once the notification of the 2014 Lok Sabha poll is issued, I will sit at Ramlila maidan with people in my front holding the tri-colour", he said.

Later, talking to reporters, Hazare said he would undertake his country-wide tour after expanding the Core Committee.

Asked if his movement was losing popular support, Hazare quipped "You will see".

Against the backdrop his hunger strike in Mumbai fizzling out, the Gandhian said, "the agitation in Mumbai lacked planning whereas the media also focussed on the empty spaces of the vast ground".

The anti-graft crusader also demanded implementation of section 4 of the RTI Act making it mandatory for all government departments to open their websites to ensure transparency, saying enactment of the independent ombudsman is the "next step" of RTI to punish the corrupt.

A book on RTI Act written by Vijay Kumbhar was released by Hazare on the occasion.

Team Anna yesterday accused the ruling Congress of "sabotaging" the Jan Lokpal Bill.

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