Ralegan Siddhi, Dec 10 (ANI): Veteran social activist Anna Hazare on Saturday morning left for New Delhi for his daylong token fast on Sunday to protest the government's version of the Lokpal Bill.
Team Anna has invited all political parties including the Congress and the BJP for Hazare's day long fast to be held at Jantar Mantar.
Hazare, who is fighting for a strong anti-graft bill, has reiterated his demand that the Centre should table and enact an effective Lokpal Bill that includes the lower cadres in government and other proposals suggested by the civil society members under the banner of India Against Corruption.
"This is the second struggle for independence and we shall have to make many sacrifices," Hazare said.
Earlier, he lashed out at the Central government and Parliamentary Standing Committee for 'betraying' the people by drafting a 'weak' Lokpal Bill.
"The issues and provisions that appear in the draft released by the Standing Committee are same as those in the government version of the Lokpal Bill," he said.
"The Standing Committee's draft mirrors what has already been said by the government. This proves that the Standing Committee has betrayed and misled the people. The Standing Committee's draft will not in any way help eliminate corruption from this country," he added.
The Bill is seen as a weapon to root out corruption and nepotism from the government machinery and in public life.
The proposed Bill envisages the setting up of a national anti-corruption watchdog to check financial mismanagement and corrupt practices that have deeply pervaded several democratic and civic institutions of India.
The 74-year-old social activist had staged an indefinite hunger strike against graft that he gave up on August 28 when the government agreed to deliberate the issues raised by him and his forum vis-?-vis the passage and enactment of the Lokpal Bill, a suggestion that has received unprecedented nationwide backing. (ANI)
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