Hazare continues fast, slams Congress for misleading people

New Delhi, Apr 6 (PTI) Social activist Anna Hazare, who entered the second day of his indefinite fast, today slammed the Congress for "misleading" the people by dubbing his agitation as unnecessary and premature.
72-year-old Hazare, who is demanding enactment of an anti-corruption bill to give wider powers to the Ombudsman, said, "The party''s (Congress) statement is misleading people. Why is this agitation unnecessary and how is it premature? 42 years the nation has been in need of such a bill. Why can''t the government enact it?"
He asserted that he would not end his fast unto death till the government agrees to have citizens'' participation in the drafting of the legislation.
When pointed out that the BJP too had embarked on a anti-corruption campaign today, the reformist said the party was taking advantage of the nationwide movement he had begun.
"But, they are a political party and are free to do as they wish. In the past too, when I agitated against corruption in the BJP government, the Congress party supported me. Now, its the other way around", Hazare said.
Yesterday, BJP leaders Maneka Gandhi and Prakash Javadekar visited Hazare''s protest site at Jantar Mantar but did not make any speeches.
JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav too sat on the dais with Hazare and offered his support for the Jan Lokpal Bill and even said he was ready to take it up in Parliament.
Hazare said he would not allow politicians to sit with him on the dais anymore.
The anti-corruption champion began his fast yesterday and has been joined by thousands of people

I agree with Anna Hazare that politicians should not be allowed to hijack the agitation.
If they are genuinely interested in helping Anna achieving his goal, they should pressurize the central government to join the public leaders like Anna, Swami Ramdeo, Kiran Bedi and other in a powerful anti corruption law and not a toothless law which will just protect politicians which is what the politicians are proposing to do.
It makes one laugh. Sharad Powar, who is associated with sugar, onion and other scams is to be in the committee to draft the law. I would suggest they also bring in Lalu Yadav and A Raja to make a triumvate of corrupt ministers to draft an anti corruption law.