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Hazare fast against corruption continues

By The Assam Tribune

NEW DELHI, April 6 � Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare today told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that insinuations that his fast was instigated were an �insult� to his wisdom, as political leaders wanting to make common cause with the social activist were shouted out by his supporters, reports PTI

With the fast unto death by 72-year-old Hazare entering the second day, Government made attempts to mollify him but he showed no signs of calling off his stir after his campaign gained momentum in the Capital and other parts of the country.

After being targeted by Hazare, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said he would be happy if he was relieved from all Ministerial Panels including that on corruption.

When asked to respond to Hazare�s remarks about him, Pawar said: �I will be happy if you relieve me from all Group of Ministers(GoMs), including that GoM (on corruption).�

Displaying a lack of trust in some members of the GoM, he had said �A minister like Sharad Pawar, who is known for possessing large amounts of land in Maharashtra, is heading a committee that will draft the Bill.�

Hazare shot off a letter to the Prime Minister in which he said he was pained that the government, rather than addressing the issue of corruption, is trying to allege conspiracies when there are none.

Hazare is demanding enactment of an anti-corruption bill to give wider powers to the Ombudsman. He is pressing for formation of a joint committee comprising 50 per cent officials and the remaining being citizens and intellectuals to draft the Bill.

RLD chief Ajit Singh, INLD president Om Prakash Chautala and Hindutva leader Uma Bharti were prevented from meeting Hazare and share the dais with him after they reached Jantar Mantar separately. They had to make a hasty retreat.

Hazare also accused the Congress of �misleading� the people over his agitation.

Responding to criticism that his protest was �premature�, Hazare in his letter to Prime Minister said he was not a kind of person who could be �instigated� into going on an indefinite fast.

�Dear Manmohan Singhji, this is an insult to my sense of wisdom and intelligence...I take advice from many friends and critics but do what my conscience directs me to do.

�It is my experience that when cornered, governments resort to such malicious slanderng. I am pained that the government, rather than addressing the issue of corruption, is trying to allege conspiracies when there are none,� he said.

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