Allahabad, Nov 2: Taking a dig at Anna Hazare who has threatened to go on yet another fast for a strong Lokpal, Union Minister Sriparkash Jaiswal today said the Gandhian appeared to be wary of “dilution of the credit” he was hoping to claim for his anti-corruption campaign.
Hazare recently wrote to Prime Minister threatening to go on yet another hunger strike if a strong Lokpal Bill is not passed in the upcoming winter session of Parliament.
“The UPA government is working towards bringing a legislation that will have much more teeth than what Team Anna has envisaged through its much-hyped Jan Lokpal Bill.
“It appears Hazare now has become anxious over the possible dilution of the credit he is hoping to claim for his anti-corruption campaign that was carried out with much fanfare,” the Congress leader told reporters here.
He said it is surprising that Hazare is writing to the PM in such a tone even after the government has unequivocally expressed its commitment to get a strong Lokpal Bill passed.
“Nobody in the Congress is against Anna or the cause he is championing but we are certainly taken aback by his letter which seems so unnecessary at this time,” Jaiswal said.
Jaiswal was here along with senior party colleagues Rajiv Shukla and Raj Babbar besides Uttar Pradesh Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi to choose the venue for the proposed rally of Rahul Gandhi at Phulpur, about 45 kms from here, on November 14.