New Delhi, Aug 27: As Parliament initiated a discussion on his three demands on Lokpal Bill, Anna Hazare today trained his guns at MPs saying that around 150 of them were facing criminal charges and people should not elect “useless” lawmakers next time.
In his second address to supporters within two hours, the 74-year-old Gandhian said people expected a lot from the MPs but they did not live up to the expectations and that he would tour the country to appeal to people not to vote for them again.
Hazare, who did not address his supporters for nearly 38 hours since August 25 night, emerged on the dais at around 10 am and declared that he will continue his protest till his last breath for a strong anti-corruption law.
Amid mounting worries over the 74-year-old Gandhian's health, Hazare said he could fast for another “three-four days” and “nothing will happen to him”. A little before noon while Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj was speaking on Lokpal in Lok Sabha, he again took the microphone and launched an attack on MPs.
“Today, there are 150 MPs who are facing criminal charges. We have some expectations from them. They did not live up to it. In the coming elections, we are not going to elect them. Next time, do not elect them as they are not performing according to the rules laid out by Constitution.
“I will tour across the country and appeal to people not to elect useless Parliamentarians,” Hazare said, adding people's power is stronger than that of the lawmakers. Noting that the common man is the “master” of MPs, he said one needs to keep a watch on their “servants and if they do not perform, they should be thrown out”. Hazare said one should not sleep over the wrongs of lawmakers and they should be prevented from being re-elected to Parliament.
“Our Parliament is the sacred temple of democracy. We have to keep it sacred,” he said.Hazare was earlier greeted with loud cheers from supporters who raised slogans of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai', ‘Vande Mataram' and ‘Inquilab Zindabad'.
In his first speech, he said, “I am not doing this for my personal gain. If it was so, I would not have lasted five days. Till Jan Lokpal Bill is passed, my protest will continue.”
He said he was getting energy from those who are coming out in support of the cause and this energy will help him sustain for three-four more days. “Till Jan Lokpal Bill is passed, I won't die,” he said.
Hazare said he was surprised at the manner in which the country has responded to his call while referring to a person who was sporting a tattoo on his shoulder that stated that he was the supporter of the Gandhian.
“I am surprised that a ‘fakir' is getting this support.It is not me who is doing all this. God has pointed fingers at me. He has chosen me to do the work. It is he who is doing all this. I am praised for what I am doing. A ‘fakir' should not be praised so much,” he said. PTI
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