Will support political party that fights graft: Hazare

By IANS,

Ralegan Siddhi : Social activist Anna Hazare Tuesday said he is ready to campaign for and support a like-minded non-Congress, non-BJP political outfit that is corruption-free but won’t join politics.


Support TwoCircles

The 74-year-old civil society leader criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying he is remote controlled by many people and is not allowed to do anything.

“I feel Manmohan Singh is not the only PM, a lot of people inside the Congress think they are the PM. If they want to run the government, whether it is Sonia Gandhi or Manmohan Singh they will have to take people along with them,” Hazare told CNN-IBN in an interview.

He suggested that Manmohan Singh should learn from former prime minister Indira Gandhi.

“There was one Indira Gandhi who worked for the poor in the country; she was elected as the PM. They should look at that,” he said.

Hazare, who sat on a 12-day fast last month for a stringent anti-corruption law, said he will again start the protest if the parliamentary standing committee that is examining the government’s Lokpal bill, Hazare’s Jan Lokpal bill and a draft submitted by activist Aruna Roy does not agree to their demands.

“Yes, we will protest but not against the parliament…we will see those who oppose it in the standing committee and we will start singing bhajans in front of the houses of those parliament members who are opposing such a nice bill which can improve the country,” he said of the Jan Lokpal bill.

According to Hazare, he is ready to campaign for a political outfit that promises to fight against corruption.

“I will support them but not lead them as I am an ordinary man. The good people of all parties can come together and I will tell the people of the country to support them.”

Replying to a question on allegations about source of funds for his India Against Corruption movement, Hazare said: “This is not a matter of worry for me. I will not allow black money in my movement against corruption.”

“If I get to know if black money is used, I will not stay in this movement I don’t like it. Till the time I will be associated with this movement, I want it to be clean. It should be spotless,” he added.

SUPPORT TWOCIRCLES HELP SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND NON-PROFIT MEDIA. DONATE HERE