Hazare to offer rose to PM if Cabinet approves strong Lokpal

Pune: For a change, Anna Hazare, who has been dashing off letters to the Prime Minster insisting on a strong Lokpal bill, today spoke of offering a rose to Manmohan Singh if the Union Cabinet accepts his demand. “If the Cabinet decides in favour of a strong Lokpal bill, as expected by crores of people of the country, I will offer the Prime Minister a rose at Ramlila Maidan instead of undertaking a fast (on 27 December), and congratulate him on opting for a stringent (anti-corruption) legislation,” he told reporters at Pune airport before leaving for Ralegan Siddhi, his native village. Hazare, who arrived here from Chennai, said he might not require to go back to Delhi after two days if the Cabinet decides on a strong Lokpal bill to be placed before Parliament. [caption id=“attachment_160251” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“The Gandhian in this file photo. PTI”] [/caption] The Gandhian has threatened to go on fast from 27 December and launch a jail bharo campaign from 1 January if the government fails to get an effective Lokpal bill passed in the ongoing session of Parliament. A modified Lokpal bill is being readied and is expected to be placed before the Cabinet for its consideration tonight. PTI