Anna ended his vow of silence at Rajghat

NEW DELHI: Anna Hazare ended his 19-day long vow of silence on Friday. He said that his struggle against corruption and for the Jan Lokpal Bill will continue as he is all fit to resume the fight now.

Anna said, “I have ended my ‘maun vrat’ today and my ‘vrat’ wasn’t against any party or class. My struggle will continue for Jan Lokpal Bill and against corruption,” Anna said hours after ending his vow of silence in the national capital.

Speaking on Uttarakhand’s Lokayukta, Anna said, “I am hopeful that the scenario will change in Uttarakhand in the next 5 to 6 months. Poor people will see justice in the state.”

He praised Uttarakhand Chief Minister BC Khanduri for his Lokayukta model and said that the government should follow his example to fight corruption. “We will tell the government that if they want to eradicate corruption then they should follow Khanduri’s Lokayukta example. We can never reach the true state of democracy till there is power to people,” he said. Anna will also meet the Uttarakhand Chief Minister later on Friday.

He accused the government of trying to weaken Jan Lokpal Bill by bringing separate bills for citizens’ charter and to protect whistle blowers. Anna said, “This government is dividing the Jan Lokpal by breaking it into pieces and making it weaker. Why separate the citizens’ charter. If the government does not agree to the Standing Committee suggestions then what’s the point of having a Standing Committee?”

Anna said, “If in the winter session they don’t pass Lokpal Bill, we will rally during the general elections against the parties who don’t support the bill.”

Anna Hazare ended his ‘maun vrat’ (vow of silence) on Friday at Rajghat in the national capital. His first words after ending the maun vrat were ‘Bharat mata ki jai’.

Team Anna has been surrounded by controversies with members Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kejriwal facing allegations of misusing funds. Speaking on these allegations, Anna said, “Allegations are not new for us. There should be an inquiry and anyone who is held guilty, should be punished.”

This came just hours before he appears before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Lokpal Bill on Friday.

On Thursday night Anna reached Delhi. His team members had appeared for the panel on Thursday and explained the amendments that they are seeking in the bill.