Anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare stated on Saturday that he did not mean to insult Rahul Gandhi when he doubted that the Congress MP was interfering with the Parliamentary Standing Committee. Mr. Hazare reiterated that his agitation was not against an individual.
“The sudden U-turn by the Standing Committee made me doubt that Rahul Gandhi may have intervened. I didn't mean to insult him,” Mr. Hazare said, speaking to journalists in his native village Ralegan Siddhi.
Mr. Hazare alleged on Friday that Mr. Gandhi might have interfered as the Committee went back on its decision to include the lower bureaucracy under the Lokpal in its final report.
“This movement is not against the Congress, the government, the Prime Minister or Mr. Rahul Gandhi. This is against corrupt attitude,” Mr. Hazare said. He stated that he was still ready for a dialogue with the government, even through the media.
“I do not want to offend Parliament. If I have done something wrong, then punish me for it,” the social activist said.
Asked if his repeated agitations and fasts were a way to pressure the government, Mr. Hazare said: “I am not going to New Delhi for a show of strength. We need to tell the government that the people want the Jan Lokpal Bill. There are hundreds of people who have come to meet me in Ralegan Siddhi till now, and letters of support for the next andolan are pouring in.”
If he was denied permission by the Delhi Police to go on fast on the Ramlila Maidan from December 27 he would be ready to observe the protest inside jail, Mr. Hazare said.
