PM not serious about Lokpal: Hazare

Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not being interested in appointing a Lokpal. Having hit the road in the run-up to a mega show of strength at the Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on March 23, Hazare says Modi was “never serious about Lokpal”.The reason behind the delay in the appointment of a Lokpal, he said, is because the prime minister is afraid that once this becomes a reality his office as well as that of his cabinet members would also come under its purview.The 80-year-old said he has written 22 letters to the prime minister in the past four years but has not got a reply to even one. Even as chief minister of Gujarat, Modi tried to cold shoulder the appointment of a Lokayukta in the state, he added.Hazare cites the section 4 clause 2 of the Lokpal Act wherein it is specifically said that in case the appointment of a Lokpal is made with some members of the select panel not being there, it is in principle binding. “This government says there is no leader of opposition hence Lokpal cannot be appointed. This is all hogwash,” Hazare said.Asked him if corruption has come down under the watch of Modi, Hazare said: “He is a good orator, hence the issue of graft is overshadowed but the reality is that the common man continues to bear the brunt of graft.Having addressed more than 50 rallies since he started the renewed mission from November 22 last year, Hazare bubbles with energy when one mentions how his ‘andolan’ (revolution) in 2011 had spurred the youth of the nation.He is quick say that thousands of volunteers in the movement this time around too are putting in their whole effort so that the nation could be freed from the clutches of corruption. “If the youth gets up, the fate of the nation will change for the good,” he said while pointing out how his rallies in Aurnachal Pradesh, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Haryana in the past few months had garnered immense support of women and the youth.Asked how the movement would be different this time he said:“The last time we were successful in ensuring that a legislation which was put on the back burner and resisted by the political establishment for so many decades was passed by the parliament. This time we will ensure that it is implemented in letter and spirit. Asked about his one-time protégé Arvind Kejriwal, he said he had cautioned the now Delhi chief minister many times that he should not “be tempted by power” but he did not pay heed.Kejriwal, who has many times called Hazare his mentor and Hazare have not spoken for the last many years.The octogenarian has now enforced a strict rule that any body who becomes part of the outfit taking forward the anti-graft crusade will have to sign an affidavit promising no role in active politics. Over 5,000 people have already signed it, informs an aide while adding that in case someone breaches the contract, Anna can take the person to court.