Anna Hazare has written a letter to the prime minister demanding that the draft of the Lokpal bill which is prepared by the civil society (the Jan Lokpal bill) should be discussed in the parliament and not the one prepared by the government.

The activist wrote in the letter that the government’s draft of the Lokpal Bill is a joke played on the country and that it doesn’t address any of the issues which affect the common man.

“We thought that barring some minor points, the government would agree with us on all major points. Unfortunately, even after two months of discussion, we are still at a point where we were two months ago,” Hazare wrote in the letter.

“On April 4, when I sat on the fast, we had two drafts of the bill. Today also we have two drafts,” he added.

Meanwhile, the government had asked various states’ chief ministers for their views on the Lokpal Bill, which Hazare said was not needed.

“There was no need for the central government to ask the opinion of the chief ministers because this issue comes in the concurrent list. The centre can make a law on its own,” he included in the letter.

Showing his displeasure over how slow things have moved in drafting a stronger anti-corruption bill in the country, Hazare has decided to sit on an indefinite fast in New Delhi on August 16. However, keeping in mind how Baba Ramdev was attacked when he was on fast in May, Hazare and his team is taking all precautions.

Anna had said on Sunday that he would seek protection from the supreme court if needed to carry on with his fast. 

Lawyer and activist Prashant Bhushan, who is supporting Anna, said, “We are in talks with the Delhi police to seek permission on Anna’s fast on August 16. If the permission is denied to us, we would be compelled to go to the supreme court.”