After praising Chief Minister Narendra Modi for developmental work in Gujarat, Social activist Anna Hazare today did a U-turn saying he was dismayed at the levels of corruption in the state.

Hazare, who had faced criticism for praising Modi, observed that corruption was rampant in Gujarat and wryly said it has not even spared the state of Mahatma Gandhi.

The anti-graft crusader also said liquor flows more freely than milk in Gandhi's Gujarat where a prohibition law is in force.

"After coming here, I have realised that there are so many corruption cases here. So much corruption in Gandhiji's state," he said and urged Modi to quickly appoint a Lokayukta in Gujarat.

Hazare, a member of the Jan Lok Pal Bill drafting team, made these remarks during a public hearing by various civil society groups held at Gujarat Vidyapeeth here.

"Firstly bring Lokayukta here to empower the people and secondly give power to the Gram Sabhas," he said.

A law empowering gram sabhas is required in taking decisions regarding village land.

Taking another swipe at Modi, Hazare said, "In Gandhiji's state so much alcohol. Gujarat has more alcohol than it has milk," he said. Gujarat is one of the leading milk producing states in the country.

Hazare had earlier said that state chief ministers must learn from the work done by the chief ministers of Gujarat and Bihar.

His praise of Modi had fuelled a controversy and also came up for criticism from his own followers like social activist Medha Patkar. Hazare later sought to "clarify" that he was opposed to communalism.

Social activist Swami Agnivesh said the public hearing has exposed the false claims of Gujarat government over development.

Jan Lokpal Bill will have tooth to send corrupt to jail: Hazare
Ahmedabad, May 26 (PTI) Social activist Anna Hazare today exuded confidence that the Jan Lokpal Bill will have 'enough tooth' to send the corrupt in jail.

"The multi-crore scams like Adarsh, CWG are surfacing ... but scamsters are not being sent to jail. For sending such scamsters to jail there will be this Jan Lokpal Bill," Hazare said at an event here.

"In the last 62 years, no law has been enacted in the country to put brakes on corruption, which is not good in a law-driven democratic country like India," he said.

The government was saying why do we need people (civil society) from outside for drafting the bill, I told them they are not outsiders, Hazare said adding that people in democracy are politicians' boss as they vote them to power.

On January 26, 1950, a day when India became sovereign republic, people of the country turned your bosses, Hazare said.

"When I spoke like this the government went silent," Hazare said.

"I mean to say that in a democratic set up it is necessary to take civil society with you if the nation has to make progress, he said.

If a law is to be enacted then the public must be consulted on it, like we are doing, Hazare said adding that an effective legislation like the RTI Act came into existence in a similar fashion.

Swami Agnivesh, while sharing dais with Hazare said that the Jan Lokpal bill draft is likely to get finalised before June 30.

Hazare on a two-day Bangalore visit

Bangalore: Social activist and anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare is arriving here on Friday on a two-day visit to elicit views from the public on the Jan Lokpal bill which is in the drafting stage.

Hazare's visit is being organised by the India Against Corruption (IAC) with the twin objective of creating awareness about the Bill and its salient features and to extend the participative process where views of different sections of society are incorporated into the draft.

Hazare will visit T. Begur, a village on the city outskirts where he would interact with locals, IAC said in a release.

He will participate in Public Consultation programme with civil society members of the Lokpal Committee & India Against Corruption,which is being telecast live by a regional channel.

Besides Hazare,Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde, Prashant Bhushan, Swami Agnivesh and Arvind Kejriwal (representatives of civil society in the Joint Committee for drafting the Lokpal Bill) and former police officer Kiran Bed will also be present.

On May 28, Hazare will address a public meeting at the National College Grounds.