Govt cheating people, will fast from Aug 16: Anna

Rejecting contention that Lokpal proposed by it was aimed at creating a 'parallel' government, veteran social activist Anna Hazare on Wednesday said he will undertake fast-unto-death from August 16 and would not be go back on his decision even if the government makes any request.

A day after the joint committee for drafting Lokpal Bill wound up in a failure, the Hazare team lashed out at the government, saying it was 'cheating' and 'misleading' people and had pulled out a 'very big hoax' through its version of the legislation.

Hazare said it was time for all like-minded people, including Ramdev with whom he was maintaining distance due to his proximity to Hindutva elements, to join hands in the fight against corruption, which he termed a 'bigger danger for the country than Pakistan.'

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Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, he took strong exception to the government's contention that the civil rights activists wanted to create a 'parallel' government through their version of Lokpal Bill.

He asked whether the government considered an 'independent' Election Commission or Supreme Court as a parallel.

Alleging that the government had no intent to bring a strong anti-corruption law, Hazare said, "The suspended agitation (of his fast) will be restarted from August 16 for the nation and the people. I will be carry on with the agitation till I live."

Observing that he had 'no faith' in the government now, he said, "Even if the government approaches me, I will not change my decision. I will no longer believe their words but only their acts."

Hazare, whose hunger strike in April had evoked a nationwide support, alleged the government was 'misleading' people on his planned protest so that it does not get public support.

Specifically taking on Human Resources Development Minister Kapil Sibal, he questioned his contention that the civil society's Lokpal Bill was aimed at creating a 'parallel' structure outside government.

"When did we talk about a parallel government? We have an independent Election Commission. You cannot interfere in it. These powers have been given to it by the government. We have an independent Supreme Court...We have an RTI system...The government does not interfere. Will we call these parallel governments? Like these (institutions), we want the Lokpal to be independent," he said alleging that the government was trying to 'mislead' people.

Justifying a strong Lokpal with sweeping powers, Hazare said the RTI had helped unearth 'scams after scams but scamsters are not going to jail.'

He said the civil activists wanted the government to lose control of bureaucracy because 'they are hand-in-glove' as a result of which funds do not reach the people.

On the government draft not providing for merger of Central Bureau of Investigation with the Lokpal, Hazare and his associates Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi said the agency will 'remain corrupt' till it remains under government's control.

"In the past 62 years, how many ministers, how many IAS or IPS officers have gone to jail in corruption cases. We want an independent CBI to eradicate corruption. But CBI is under the control of government. What is the problem in bringing CBI under Lokpal?" Hazare said.