Former PM Manmohan Singh was against corruption, says social activist Anna Hazare

'He was against corruption and took immediate decisions concerning the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act. He always thought about the country and how best he could work for its people', Hazare said.

Mumbai: Anti-graft activist Anna Hazare on Friday condoled the death of former prime minister Manmohan Singh and said he was against corruption.

Hazare had undertaken a series of protests in Delhi in 2011 against the Dr Manmohan Singh-headed Congress-led UPA government, demanding strong Lokpal and Lokayuktas.

The protests mid-way during the UPA-II regime had shaken the Congress-led alliance and gave the BJP a solid footing to come to power.

During the course of the agitation, Hazare (87) has met Dr Singh on a couple of occasions at the latter’s official residence in New Delhi.

“Dr Singh gave a new direction to the country,” he said, adding that he had love for the society. Those who are born have to die, but some leave memories and their legacy behind…he will always be in my memories,” Hazare said in his village Ralegan Siddhi in Ahilyanagar district (earlier Ahmednagar) of Maharashtra.

“He was against corruption and took immediate decisions concerning the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act. He always thought about the country and how best he could work for its people,” he said.

In 2011, Hazare undertook fast in Jantar Mantar, Rajghat, Ramlila Maidan in Delhi and the MMRDA Grounds in Mumbai.