Hazare dares Congress to prove graft charges against him

New Delhi, Aug 14: As Congress asked him to come clean on allegations of trust money misappropriation, Anna Hazare today hit back asking the ruling party to prove the charges or he will continue with his proposed fast even if civil society''s version of Lokpal bill is cleared in Parliament.

"I want the government to lodge an FIR against me and conduct an inquiry," he said responding to the allegations of the Congress which had cited the report of Sawant Committee.

Addressing a press conference here, Hazare said he will not call of his proposed fast from August 16 on Lokpal issue till his name is cleared or the charges are proved.

"Even if Jan Lokpal Bill (the version of civil society) is cleared in Parliament, I will not call off my indefinite fast, till the charges levelled against are proved or my name is cleared. Is this how people are maligned?" Hazare asked.

"They indulge in corruption and ask us the source of money. People of Maharashtra know how I get the money. For the past 20 years, I have been in social service. I keep a bag and people donate from Rs five to Rs 10 and this is how I collect money. Every thing is accounted and is on internet," he said.

His response came as Congress raised its pitch alleging that Justice P B Sawant Commission had ripped apart the "moral core" of Hazare as it "found him steeped in corruption from head to toe" and asked him to clarify its "serious findings" against him and his trusts before launching the agitation.

Hazare said the Committee has not pointed fingers at him and instead named three of the four then ministers of Maharashtra against whom there were complaints.

PTI