New Delhi: Hitting out at one-time mentor Anna Hazare for accepting the proposed Lokpal Bill, which has been tabled in the Rajya Sabha, Aam Aadmi Party founder Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday that he was disappointed with the social activist for accepting the 'toothless' Bill.
Hazare later hit back at Kejriwal, saying: “I have read the provisions of the Bill properly. If you think the Bill has any shortcomings, fast for it.”
“I’m really surprised. How can Anna accept sarkari Lokpal Bill? Sarkari Lokpal is a jokepal. Who is misleading Anna?” Kejriwal asked.
He said that none of the three conditions, which were agreed upon when the activist broke his fast in August 2011, was there in the “jokepal”.
“Whatever Anna may say, we will continue our fight for the Jan Lokpal Bill till our last breath,” the AAP leader said.
Read DC editorial here: Can Lokpal help rid us of corruption?
Fasting for the early passage of the Lokpal Bill in his village Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra, Hazare said that he would end his fast only after the anti-corruption legislation is passed in both Houses of Parliament, and rubbished the AAP’s contention that it was weak.
Expressing satisfaction at the provisions of the amended Bill and thanking the government for it, he termed it as “good” for both the people and the society and hoped the Lokayuktas would also be set up soon in states to check corruption.
Next: AAP to hold meets for public opinion
AAP to hold meets for public opinion
Sanjay Kaw | DC
While the Aam Aadmi Party has kept its doors open to the Congress and the BJP support in formation of the government in the capital, the party has asked its elected legislators to get a correct feedback from the electorate, after receiving the replies from the two parties on the 18 issues.
Soon after meeting lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung on Saturday, the AAP wrote letters to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and BJP chief Rajnath Singh seeking their views on the 18 pressing issues, like auditing of the electricity companies and granting of full statehood to Delhi.
While the Congress maintained it had already extended unconditional support to the AAP, the BJP said it was ready to give conditional support in the government formation.
Congress general secretary Shakeel Ahmed, who is in-charge of Delhi, said he would reply in a day or two, but two outgoing ministers Arvinder Singh Lovely and Haroon Yusuf said there was no need for any reply as the party had already extended its unconditional support. Mr Kejriwal said once his party receives replies from the Congress and the BJP, a final decision would be taken only after discussing the matter with the people of Delhi.
“We will hold public meetings in all the municipal wards. If people of Delhi want us to form the government, we will not hesitate to do so. But first we need to get the replies from the two parties.”
Kejriwal said many people were questioning “whether we would be able to provide good governance.” “We will show (Union minister) Dr Farooq Abdullah what is good governance,” he added. Kejriwal said the first thing for his party was to know what was the stand of the Congress and the BJP.
on the issues they had raised. He requested the political parties to stop playing politics. “The BJP should tell us clearly on what issues they are supporting us. We are not running away from our responsibility. But please stop playing politics with us. The present day politics has ruined the entire country.”
Kejriwal said there was nothing like “unconditional support” in political dictionary. “The unconditional support means that they will not allow the government to function for even a single day,” he said, adding, ”Nothing comes for free in love and politics.”
The AAP founder said the newly-elected legislators have been told to reach out to their electorate for the feedback on the government formation. “We will take any decision only after getting the correct feedback from the people of Delhi.”
Asked whether the AAP would be fielding Kumar Vishwas against Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Kejriwal said the party leadership has not taken any such decision so far.
