Anna accuses UPA of 'betrayal' on Lokpal, threatens fresh stir

Allahabad: Accusing the Centre of ‘betrayal’ on the Lokpal Bill, anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare today threatened to launch a fresh stir at Ramlila ground in Delhi later this year to raise the pitch over the issue. “After the Parliament had passed a resolution in favour of a strong Lokpal Bill, the Prime Minister had given us a written assurance that our concerns would be addressed and a strong and effective ombudsman will be in place. Two years have elapsed since then,” Hazare told reporters in Allahabad. [caption id=“attachment_932053” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Social activist Anna Hazare. PTI[/caption] “This is an act of betrayal on part of the government which is refusing to fulfil its promise to the nation,” the noted Gandhian, who made a brief halt in the city while on his way to Rewa in the neighbouring state of Madhya Pradesh, said. “We will not take it lying down. I have decided to launch a fresh stir at the Ramlila ground in Delhi. The date has not been finalised yet, but it would most probably be in October-November. “We will compel the insensitive political establishment to pay heed to the voice of the nation,” Hazare added. Hazare’s 12-day-long fast at the Ramlila Ground in August, 2011 had received international attention and eventually led to a resolution being passed during a special session of the Parliament wherein it had agreed in principle on some of the suggestions made by the anti-graft activist and his associates. PTI