Social activist Mr Anna Hazare broke his vow of silence on Friday and declared that he would campaign against the Congress in the five poll-bound states if the Jan Lokpal Bill was not passed in the Winter Session of Parliament. Assembly polls are due next year in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Manipur and Goa.

“I will personally tour these five states and ask people what the benefit was of re-electing Congressmen. Let them say whatever they want...I will go and ask them not to vote for Congress (if the Bill is not passed),” he told mediapersons in Delhi.

A few days ago, the 74-year-old anti-graft crusader had said that he would not campaign against any political party in the forthcoming Assembly polls.

Mr Hazare said that he would undertake a three-day fast after the last day of the Winter Session, followed by a one-day dharna and then set off for the five poll-bound states.

On the proposed Grievance Redressal Bill and another one on protecting whistleblowers, Mr Hazare said, “The Government is cutting the Jan Lokpal into several pieces and weakening it.”

Hailing the Uttarakhand Lokayukta Bill, he said the Centre should follow that model. “In fact, I want to felicitate Chief Minister, Mr B.C. Khanduri, after all, he is a soldier, just like me,” he said.

Mr Hazare is in the Capital to appear before the Standing Committee of Parliament to give Team Anna’s inputs on the Lokpal Bill.

On petrol prices

Mr Hazare blamed corruption for the frequent food and general price rise in the country. “The Government and oil companies are hand-in-glove, that is why there are frequent petrol price hikes,” Mr Hazare said.

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