Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev today decided to come together for a strong Jan Lokpal Bill and for bringing back unaccounted wealth stashed by Indians in foreign lands. Mr Hazare, accompanied by his team members, including Mr Arvind Kejriwal, Mr Manish Sisodia and Mr Sanjay Singh, reached Patanjali Yogpeeth in the afternoon and held discussions with Baba Ramdev on their future strategy.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Kejriwal, referring to a breach of privilege notice from Lok Sabha for making derogatory references to Members, denied that he had committed any offence. There are 163 members in the Parliament who have criminal records, facing charges of murder and kidnapping. Yesterday, Congress MP Sajjan Singh Verma, RJD MPs Rajniti Prasad and Ram Kripal Yadav have served a privilege notice against Mr Kejriwal for calling MPs ‘rapists, murderers and looters’ during an election campaign rally last month.
The Lok Sabha Secretariat has sought reply from Mr Kejriwal following the receipt of the notices. He has been asked to furnish his reply by March 24. Mr Hazare said in future he and his team will participate in all the agitations of Baba Ramdev, and the Baba’s followers will take part in all his agitations.
Mr Hazare will sit on a one-day fast at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on March 25 demanding strong Jan Lokpal Bill and other issues related with eradication of corruption. He said he will undertake a tour of different States across the country to create awareness on this major issue.
Addressing a Mahila Sammelan at Patanjali Yogpeeth, Mr Hazare also demanded 50 per cent reservation for women from
Gram Sabha to the Lok Sabha.
Baba Ramdev said he and Mr Hazare have always been together and would continue to be so.
—UNI