Hazare exposes secret meet with Khurshid; rules out talks

Ralegan Siddhi, Jul 18: Accusing the government of conspiring to split his team,

said he will not hold talks with government any more on Lokpal issue, an announcement that came in the wake of leak of reports of his meeting with Law Minister

recently.

Breaking his silence on the meeting with Khurshid on Jun 23 near Pune, he said the minister had asked him to keep the meeting secret and he agreed. Khurshid had also asked him not to participate in the proposed fast in Delhi.

Addressing a press conference here, he released a letter he has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in which he denied the claim of Minister of State in PMO V Narayanasamy that he was helping the government on evolving a consensus on Lokpal.

"When Salman Khurshid told me that the government will take a decision on the issue before Jul 25 (when Team Anna plans to go on fast), it clearly means that differences crop up in the team before the agitation so that I am not part of the protest. After coming to know about your government's conspiracy, I do not wish to talk to any minister or any responsible person now or in future. People's fight is a way for the betterment of society and the country. Till we get Jan Lokpal, the people's struggle will continue," Hazare said.

PTI