Team Anna’s Core Committee will meet here for two days from Wednesday to chalk out future plans, including the proposed Ramlila Maidan agitation, if a strong Lokpal Bill is not passed in the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament.
Mr. Hazare will chair the meeting which is expected to take a final call on his decision to go on an indefinite fast from December 27 if a Lokpal law which addresses his concerns is not passed in Parliament.
Team Anna sources said the Core Committee will also discuss how to go ahead with their campaign in the five poll-bound states if the situation warrants. “There will be preliminary discussions on all these issues,” a Team Anna member said.
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Sources said the Core Committee will decide on the mode of Ramlila agitation like whether Mr. Hazare should sit on a fast or not and how to mobilise support for the protest, which will be held in chilly winter days.
There are also concerns about Mr. Hazare’s health and all these factors will be considered while deciding on the protest mode, sources said.
Mr. Hazare has stepped up attack on the government on the issue bringing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the direct line of fire, saying the former “does not take any decision” and the latter was “watering down” proposals.
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Congress has been insisting that Mr. Hazare should wait till Parliament passes the bill before going on a protest.
Meanwhile, Mr. Hazare on Tuesday said he will go ahead with his proposed fast here from December 27 if a strong Lokpal Bill is not enacted in the current session of Parliament.
The activist said he and his supporters were working to eradicate corruption from the country as well as building a strong rural India.
“Our struggle against corruption is on. I will sit on a fast from December 27 in Ramlila. You (government) bring the Jan Lokpal Bill,” he told reporters here.
He said the way in which things are being done it will not help in the development of the country.
“We have to spend 70 per cent of the money in development and 30 per cent for management. Otherwise it won’t work,” he said, adding youth of the country have committed to the development of the country.
His close associate Kiran Bedi said Team Anna has been totally focused on the Lokpal Bill.
Asked about Congress leaders’ criticism for attacking Rahul Gandhi, she said, “What others do or say, it is not our focus.”