After Kejriwal, now Anna haunts Sonia Gandhi, begins fast

Pune, Dec 10: The Gandhian crusader --

resumed his battle against

-led

and UPA government which has so far failed to pass the anti-corruption Jan Lokpal Bill. The septuagenarian began his indefinite fast on Tuesday, Dec 10.

Anna started his fast just two days after Delhi election results in which Congress lost power and Anna's former aide Arvind Kejriwal received a magnificent victory. While Congress has been uprooted from power in Delhi winning 8 seats only, Kejriwal's party -- Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) grabbed 28 seats.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi and his party leaders might be going through one of the toughest phases after the poll debacle in which they tasted defeats in four states including Delhi. Now, Anna's indefinite fast must have increased troubles for Congress.

Anna started his fast 2 days after Delhi poll results in which Cong lost power

Anna accused Manmohan Singh government of "betrayal" and going back on its promise on Jan Lokpal Bill. Anna said one of the major reasons for the drubbing the Congress got in the just-concluded elections to four states was its failure to get the Jan Lokpal Bill passed.

"Congress betrayed the people who responded appropriately," he told reporters. Anna said when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh can pledge to get the Communal Violence Bill passed in Parliament, why can't he do the same for the much-delayed anti-graft law.

Recalling his earlier hunger fast in Delhi, Mr Hazare said, "Sonia Gandhi wrote a letter saying that Government is ready to bring Jan Lokpal Bill and said please end your fast. I trusted her and I ended my fast."

"I didn't know that this UPA government will betray the public and me," he said.

The Gandhian crusader, who had earlier announced that he would go on indefinite hunger strike Ralegan Sidhi from the first day of the Winter Session of Parliament, said he shifted the venue of his agitation at his village on the advice of his doctors as he had undergone a surgery recently.

"I had promised the people of India that if the government does not pass the Jan Lokpal Bill, then I will sit on 'Anshan' (fast) from the first day of the winter session at Ramlila Maidan. I am not well as I underwent a difficult operation and doctors have asked me to take precautions," he told reporters.

"I will be sitting on an indefinite hunger strike from December 10 at Ralegan Siddhi instead of Ramlila Ground in Delhi", he added.

He said the agitation would be organised under the banner of his newly-formed organisation, Jantantra Morcha. "We have held over 700 rallies in seven states in the past six months under the organisation to mobilise people."

The Gandhian attacked both Congress-led UPA and the opposition for having "anti-youth, anti-student, anti-village and anti-poor" economic policies.

"Instead of bringing in multi-national companies, the government should focus on developing village and generate employment there as Gandhiji had said that India won't develop until its villages are developed," Hazare said.

OneIndia News
(With PTI inputs)