New Delhi, Aug 22 :As Anna Hazare's fast entered seventh day today, his Team alleged that efforts are being made to disrupt the movement as “certain people” are scared to see the support for the Gandhian.
“Certain people are scared to see the huge support for the agitation. There are efforts to disrupt the movement,” Hazare's close aide Arvind Kejriwal said addressing the gathering at Ramilila Maidan.
He said there may be efforts to trigger violence during the protest and asked people to remain vigilant and inform police about such activities.
“There efforts to break our unity. There may be efforts to create communal tensions. We will have to remain vigilant,” Kejriwal said.
Accusing the government of being “sympathetic” to the corrupt, he said the official Lokpal Bill has nothing to effectively deal with graft.
“The government Lokapal Bill has nothing to deal with corruption and provide succour to the common man from the menace. We want PM to be investigated by an independent body which is Lokpal,” he said Kejriwal was the second speaker this morning at ‘Anna ki Paathshala' in Ramlila Maidan, as it is called by supercop Kiran Bedi.
“If any judge is involved in corruption then seven-member Lokpal bench should be able to file an FIR against him,” he said.
“If an MP takes bribe, he should be investigated by Lokpal,” Kejriwal said, adding “government Lokpal will be accountable to government but Jan Lokpal will be accountable to the common man.”
Asking supporters to “use your heart and mind before supporting Anna and the Jan Lokpal bill,” he said anybody raising voice against corruption should get protection from Lokpal.
“No big tenders should be given to such companies that have flouted rules. They should be probed by Lokpal,” he said. Addressing the gathering, Bedi said CBI should be made an independent agency and should be brought under Lokpal. “Government does not want the CBI to be an independent agency,” she said.
Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar also joined Hazare at Ramlila Maidan to extend his support to the Gandhian. As Hazare's fast inched close to 150 hours, hundreds poured into Ramlila Maidan to express solidarity with the 73-year-old Gandhian who began his indefinite fast in police custody on August 16.
Government has initiated move for back-channel negotiations by roping in Additional Chief Secretary of Maharashtra Umesh Chandra Sarangi and spiritual leader Bhaiyyuji Maharaj. Both had a meeting with Hazare and his team yesterday.PTI
