New Delhi, Jun 22 : Gandhian Anna Hazare has almost made up his mind to sit on indefinite fast from August 16 in support of a strong Lokpal bill.
In an interview to the tabloid MidDay, Hazare has said: "Leaders do not fear demonstrations or rallies, but they fear losing power. People of the country should come together to create that fear.
"The whole country came together in support of the Lokpal Bill. In the same manner people will have to unite if they want to fight the corruption prevailing in our system."
Asked whether he feels he will get the Lokpal he wants, Hazare said: "I am absolutely sure I will get the Lopal I want. I will not rest till there is a strong Lokpal."
Hazare scotched speculations that he was being offered the post of President.
Said the anti-corruption crusader: "Even APJ Abdul Kalam became President without having a political background. I am a social activist and the mission that I have undertaken is so big that I am not able to handle it. So I will not be able to handle a post like the President of India. I like doing social work. A constitutional post may not help me in that."
On spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's remark that fasting is an outdated mode of portest, Hazare said: " It is his belief and I do not agree with him."
On P Chidambaram's remark that in no country of the world are laws made by sitting on fast, the Gandhian smiled and replied: " He (Chidambaram) forgot that fasting as a tool of protest had been a trend even before Gandhi. I can't believe that he doesn't know this!"
Asked about Prime Minister Manmohan Singh not having spoken a word over the Lokpal issue, Hazare said: " I wonder what's on his ( Manmohan Singh) mind now. Once he had promised to bring a strong Lokpal bill."
On Gandhian philosophy, Hazare said: "Gandhiji spoke on many things and I have been able to put into practice only a few of them. We need to replicate a model of the village parliament ( Gram Sabha) in every state to make our democracy stronger.
" Gandhiji never dreamt of a Parliament in the way it functions today. It is the Gram Sabhas that should be empowered. No one talks about them.
"They are the smallest units of governance. We cannot curb corruption until Gram Sabhas are given decision- making powers. Real development in the country can happen only when villages are self sufficient and empowered."
Hazare said: "The main reason for corruption is centralisation of power. The current parliament and the state legislatures feel they own the country. There should be a legal framework to undertake land acquisition without any protest and power should be decentralised to gram sabhas.
"The village parliament(gram sabha)'s opinion needs to be sought on whether mining should be done in their village or not. Why are locals not involved? Involve them and you'll see a corruption- free country."
