Amid hectic efforts to end the impasse over the Lokpal issue, social activist Anna Hazare on Friday shot off a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying he would break his fast if a resolution was passed in Parliament on his three key demands: setting up Lokayuktas in States, inclusion of lower bureaucracy and a citizens' charter under the Lokpal Bill.
Even as a tug of war was on between the government and the Opposition over how to tackle the Lokpal Bill issue in Parliament, Mr. Hazare remained mostly silent on the 11{+t}{+h} day of his fast. His appearances on the dais on the Ramlila grounds here were also intermittent, raising fresh concerns at his health.
The anti-corruption crusader was, however, involved in every development — right from the exchange of drafts of resolution that were proposed to be moved in Parliament on the three ‘sticking points' to the meetings with political parties his team had during the day to garner support.
The letter to the Prime Minister contained his version of the resolution to be moved in Parliament. A similar letter was written to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar as Parliament had requested Mr. Hazare to end his fast.
“My inner conscience tells me that if there is consensus on these proposals, then I will break my fast. The other issues in the Jan Lokpal Bill like [the] selection process and others are also very important to contain corruption.”
“I will continue to sit in Ramlila Maidan along with my supporters till Parliament takes decision on the other issues because this is the voice of people,” he said in his two-page letter.
Thanking Dr. Singh and Parliament for respecting the movement for a strong Lokpal Bill, the 74-year-old activist said he had the highest regard for Parliament which is a “sacred temple of democracy.”
Noting that it was difficult for him to see a common man struggling because of corruption, Mr. Hazare said his three demands were meant to save the common man.
“Is it possible to bring all these three proposals to Parliament? I am not only hopeful but confident that all parliamentarians will agree to these three proposals to provide relief to the common man who is suffering from corruption.”
Asserting that his movement was not against any person or any party, Mr. Hazare said, “During the agitation, if my or my colleagues' words have hurt you, or anybody else I express my regrets. We don't want to hurt anybody.”
Mr. Hazare said rules, regulations and laws were for the people and they were not above people. “We should not hesitate if we have to make new laws or change certain laws to contain corruption immediately.”
Team Anna claimed the support of the BJP, the CPI(M), the CPI, the JD (U), the Shiv Sena and the Telugu Desam for its three demands and said it would continue efforts to convince other parties also.
Congress Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh kept in touch with Mr. Hazare. BJP leaders Ananth Kumar and Gopinath Munde also met him.
