Amid hectic efforts to break the deadlock over Lokpal Bill, Anna Hazare on Wednesday remained stiff on three issues on which his team has differences with government and said he will continue his fast till all demands are met. As his indefinite hunger strike demanding a strong Lokpal Bill
entered the ninth day, Hazare said the government has no intention to eradicate corruption even today and it is not honest in its effort in this regard.
Team Anna and government’s chief interlocutor Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday did not reach an agreement on three “sticky” issues — citizen’s charter, inclusion of lower bureaucracy and setting up of Lokayukta in state through Lokpal.
“Yesterday, the government agreed to our demands but kept a decision pending on three issues,” a frail-looking Hazare told the gathering at Ramlila Maidan where he is sitting on fast.
“If the demands are not met, I have decided that I will fight till my last breath,” he said.
“From village to mantralaya, everyone should be brought under Lokpal,” the 74-year-old Gandhian said, adding “it has become very difficult for the poor to avail any service since the chain of corruption went from bottom to top.”
He said from getting a ration card, kerosene and health services, nothing can be done without paying a bribe. “This chain has to be broken,” he said.
Team Anna has been demanding that the whole bureaucracy should be brought under the ambit of Lokpal while the government is of the view that only officers above the level of Under Secretary should come within its purview.
Source : New Delhi