Anna Hazare hits out at Congress, BJP for Jan Lokpal bill delay

Ralegan Siddhi (Maha), Dec 12: Anti-graft activist

today accused

of cheating and misleading people on the

and also hit out at BJP for not "raising its voice" to pressure the government to bring the bill for discussion in the Rajya Sabha.

I would request the Samajwadi Party leaders not to oppose the bill: Anna

"You are saying that you will pass the bill. But I have come to know that the government has not kept the Lokpal Bill on the agenda for discussion in the Rajya Sabha. Today also it was not on the agenda of the House. It means Congress is cheating and misleading the people," Hazare, on an indefinite fast pressing for passage of Jan Lokpal Bill by Parliament, told a gathering at the Yadav Baba temple here.

The activist, whose fast entered the third day today, said he had written to senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley asking why he didn't press for discussion on Lokpal Bill for past one year in Parliament.

"Despite being the Leader of Opposition, why you had not made efforts to pressurise the government to bring the bill, which is stuck for past one year just for discussion," Hazare said, adding he said that he had asked the government thrice but it had refused to bring it.

"When the government was not bringing the bill then why didn't you raised the voice within and outside the Parliament. It shows that your party is equally responsible for not bringing the bill, just like the Congress," he said, adding he came to know that the bill would be brought for discussion on Friday "only this afternoon".

Hazare requested Samajwadi Party not to disrupt Parliament proceedings and ensure smooth passage of the Lokpal Bill. "I would request the Samajwadi Party leaders not to oppose the bill, as it is in favour of common people.

Opposing the Bill would not serve their purpose," said Hazare. Earlier in the day, SP made it clear that it will oppose the Lokpal Bill in the Rajya Sabha while JD(U) and NCP supported its early passage.

PTI