Anna asks voters to reject Cong

Back in action: Hazare to hold rallies if anti-graft bill is not passed

For the first time since his campaign against graft began in April, Anna Hazare on Tuesday came out against the Congress party, appealing to the electorate to vote the party out.

Without mincing words Hazare made a politically coloured statement: “I will campaign against the Congress if the Jan Lokpal bill is not passed in Parliament’s winter session; and I will sit on a protest fast in Lucknow before the state goes to elections and hold public rallies in each of the states where election is going to be held.”

“I have decided,” he told newspersons at Ralegan Siddi, “if the Congress tries to scuttle or frowns upon the Jan Lokpal bill then I will be forced to tour election states and convince people of the region to desist from voting for Congress.”

Tuesday’s announcement with strong anti-Congress overtones, came after an intense discussion with India Against Corruption (IAC) key member Arvind Kejriwal who stayed overnight at Hazare’s native village Ralegan Siddi.

Kejriwal left for Delhi on Tuesday and Hazare’s close-aide Shyam Kumar Pathade, told Deccan Herald: “The discussion between anti-graft crusaders primarily revolved around future strategies that included whistle-stop public rallies in Hissar in Haryana, which is going for a Lok Sabha by-election on October 13.”

Though he reiterated his stand on the anti-corruption movement, stating “I will resume what we have started for the passing of Jan Lokpal bill after Dusshera,” his next line took news persons by surprise: “I plan to go to Hissar if time permits and hold public rallies against Congress or I will send a video-taped message to Hisar people about the antics of Congress.”

On being asked about the response of the contesting candidates in Hissar by-poll, Hazare informed that the civil society activists,“have already written to ‘key’ candidates and barring Congress all of them have extended support to the bill.”

“From Hissar I intend to go to other states where elections are scheduled and will tell the people the kind of gimmicks Congress is indulging in to somehow nip the Jan Lokpal bill. Majority of politicians are involved in some scam or other. The prime minister’s name has cropped up in 2G scam and I feel he should courageously face an ‘agnipareeksha,’ this would set a good example for others.”

However, immediately after announcing his proposed anti-Congress rally in the press meet, Hazare took pains to dispel any misgiving or prejudice towards the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

“If the bill is passed then why should we hold any agitations against the ruling UPA government; instead we will exhort people to check out antecedents and past records of the contesting candidates before voting for them.”

“We are against corruption, it may be any party. My criticism of Congress does not mean that I am with BJP. Those who think this way need to check their sanity. Just look at Gujarat how the state chief minister is treating IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt…we just want good, clean candidates who hold people’s interest rather than their own interest at heart.”

MPCC hits back at Team Anna

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee on Tuesday charged Team Anna with an “anti-Congress agenda,” reports DHNS.

MPCC spokesperson Anant Gadgil, in a hastily called press meet said:“Today’s press conference clearly shows that people around him have specific anti-Congress agenda.”

“Till yesterday Hazare was saying his agitation was purely against corruption and not against any specific political party. But just listen to what he is saying today.”