Saturday, March 5, 2011

Prime minister did not invite me for talks on Lokpal Bill: Anna Hazare-4/3/11

Prime minister did not invite me for talks on Lokpal Bill: Anna Hazare

Published: Friday, Mar 4, 2011, 3:09 IST

By Partha Sarathi Biswas | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA

Anti-corruption crusader, Anna Hazare, rubbished reports in a section of media that he has been invited by prime minister Manmohan Singh him for talks.

An agency report from Delhi stated quoting sources at the PMO that prime minister had invited Hazare for a discussion on the Lokpal Bill. The sources said that Hazare could visit and meet the prime minister at his convenience.

Hazare has threatened to go on an indefinite fast from April 4, in protest against the government’s decision to pass the Lokpal Bill without consultation with the civil societies.

Anna stated in a statement issued on late Thursday that he had received a call from the PMO asking about his future Delhi travels.

A peeved Hazare had harsh words for the PMO’s assumption that the call was good enough invite.

“I have been in public life for more than 40 years and if I am treated in this casual and unprofessional manner, what would happen to the million citizens who are desperately knocking at the doors of prime minister for delivery of basic justice,” he wondered.

He went to record that his previous letters to the Singh has remained unacknowledged so far.

“What about the six letters that I have written to the prime minister within a span of three months on the issue that have remained unanswered,” Hazare stated adding that he apprehended that those letters had not reached the Singh at all.

“And this was proved when the prime minister told Swami Agvinesh that he had not seen those letters sent by me. It is worrisome that letters are placed before him selectively,” he added.

Hazare, however expressed his willingness to have a discussion with the PM, provided proper intimation of time, date and agenda is made to him

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