Hazare lashes out at Govt on Lokpal issue

“(The Standing Committee decision) to leave it (inclusion of prime minister) to Parliament was right. We have to accept what Parliament says (on the issue),” he told reporters here.

Hazare was responding queries on Standing Committee recommending three options and leaving it to the “good sense” of Parliament the issue of inclusion of prime minister under the ambit of Lokpal.

Intensifying pressure on government,he also questioned the Standing Committee’s proposal to bring lower bureaucracy under the ambit of Lokayuktas,saying it was against the resolution passed by Parliament.

He said he will campaign in five poll-bound states telling people that the UPA government has neither intention nor honesty in tackling corruption and so don’t vote for them.

Demanding the passage of a strong Lokpal Bill in the ongoing session,he said the session should be extended if “there is no time” for bringing the law. “If there is less

time,then extend the session.

“Constitution allows you to extend the session. If you have the will,you can do anything and you can pass it now. If you have the will,then what is the problem,” he said.

“They were telling us to honour Parliament. The same Parliament has passed a resolution. Why are you not honouring it? Why do you want it (lower bureaucracy) to leave it to states?”

Terming it as a “wrong” proposal,Hazare said lower bureaucracy should be brought under Lokpal and not under Lokayukta.

He said Parliament has given an assurance that Group C and D employees will be brought under Lokpal besides providing for Lokayuktas in states and Citizen’s Charter.

Hazare noted that three Congress MPs have given dissent notes demanding inclusion of Group C employees under Lokpal and making CVC accountable to the ombudsman,key demands of Team Anna and wondered what was stopping the government from providing it as its own people were demanding it.

“If they are going to ignore our demands,then I will sit on a fast in Jantar Mantar on December 11 and then from December 27 in Ramlila Maidan. I will tell people in five poll-bound states that the government has no intention of bringing this bill and ask them not to vote for it,” he said.