No faith in Kejriwal path, says Anna

As activist Anna Hazare began the groundwork for the second round of his anti-graft movement by opening  an office in the Capital on Sunday, his former close aide Arvind Kejriwal agreed to give up the brand name India Against Corruption (IAC). However, Hazare said Kejriwal’s methods do not inspire much faith. “We don’t have faith in the path Kejriwal is pursuing,” he said.

After inaugurating his new office at Sarvodaya Enclave in South Delhi, rented from a volunteer, Hazare lashed out at the political leadership and corporate honchos alike. Addressing volunteers, the septuagenarian said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has ‘cheated’ him and warned that if the government does not bring in a Lokpal before the 2014 elections he would sit on another hunger strike.

“The country lacks leadership…. If they (the political leadership) want to bring about change in the country it is not going to change with allocation of grants alone.

“If that was the case, Tatas and Birlas would have changed the country long time back...We do not have scarcity of leadership. Problem is that these people are into coal scams, 2G scams...Our country requires a leadership that delivers what it promises. Mere lip service won’t do,” Hazare said.

On the Jan Lokpal bill, Hazare said he had pledged not to go on fast again to press for any demand. “But I’m ready to break it in case the Jan Lokpal bill is not passed ...before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections...This time, I may fast at Ramlila Maidan if the Bill is not passed before the polls in 2014,” he said.