NEW DELHI: Indian activist Anna Hazare on Tuesday stuck to his
August 30 deadline for passage of anti-corruption Jan Lokpal Bill and
asked his supporters to intensify the protest by blocking the houses of
Parliamentarians if government failed to do so.
Addressing his
supporters after nearly a break of 40 hours, Hazare, who entered the
second week of his fast, accused government of betraying all along the
civil society on the issue of a strong Lokpal Bill.
Hazare told
the gathering at Ramlila Maidan that protesters in thousands should
protest outside the residences of MPs if the government fails to get
Jan Lokpal Bill passed by August 30.
"Now, 25-30 people are
sitting on dharnas in front of MPs’ residences. If the government does
not pass the bill by August 30, we have to intensify the protest.
Protesters in thousands should surround the residences of MPs then," he
said.
Alleging that a few people in the government were
"betraying" them, he said, "They betrayed us during the meetings of
Joint Committee on Lokpal bill.
The remarks came amidst
indications from both government and Team Anna about willingness to
have talks on the issue with the civil society members demanding
nomination of an official representative for the purpose.
They
have suggested that government either withdraw the official bill or
amend it by including provisions of the Jan Lokpal Bill. Online
