We are with you in your crusade but give up fast: BJP to Anna

"Anna Hazare is a very well respected leader. We are with him in his crusade against corruption. We want that a Bill to fight corruption should be very stringent and effective. His life is very precious. We request him to give up his fast. BJP has already lent its support to this cause," Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said on Twitter.

She suggested that the government should call an all-party meet to discuss the bill.
Though BJP agrees that there is a need to bring the Lokpal Bill, it is not in agreement with Hazare's draft of the Bill, sources said.

"We have already said we agree with the essence of the demand made by Hazare and also his Gandhian way of protest," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.

Party sources said BJP agrees on four basic issues highlighted in the Jan Lokpal Bill espoused by Hazare.

"We want that the bureaucracy and politicians should come under the Lokpal's ambit, property of the guilty corrupt should be confiscated, such cases should be tried in fast track courts and there is should be more stringent punishment," Javadekar said.

He took a dig at the Congress-led government for resisting the demands made by Hazare.

"The government is now acting exactly like it did on the JPC issue. It had shown adamance and arrogance due to which the whole winter session of Parliament was lost. They will have to finally accept Hazare's demands," Javadekar said.

Asked if BJP agreed to all provisions envisaged by Hazare in the Jan Lokpal Bill, the spokesperson said, "In a democracy everybody is privy to have his views. We support the basic essence of his demand but we do not agree with every opinion of Anna."

BJP also defended Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who is facing charges of corruption yet the party has not taken any action against him.

"The case against Yeddyurappa is being investigated by the Lokayukta and an inquiry committee. We will act when the report comes out. We can assure that we will not do with the report what the Central government did with the V K Shunglu Committee report on Commonwealth Games."