Anna to resume fast if Lok Pal Bill not passed

Anna Hazare has written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, warning that he would resume his hunger strike if the government fails to pass an effective Jan Lok Pal Bill in the Winter Session of Parliament.

"I will begin my hunger strike agitation on the last day of the Session, if the Jan Lok Pal Bill is not passed in the House," Hazare said in the letter.

His close aide Datta Awari told PTI over phone from Ralegan Siddhi that in the letter, Hazare has reminded the Prime Minister that he had called off his indefinite hunger strike, which he began on August 16 at Ramlila Maidan, following a written assurance from the Prime Minister, which was conveyed to him by Union Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

"If an effective Jan Lok Pal Bill is in place, it would help the country to get rid of corruption and also help utilise more funds towards development work," Hazare has said in the letter.

The 74-year-old activist, who is observing vow of silence at his native village since October 16, had yesterday indicated that he might discontinue the 'maun vrat' over the next couple of days as he wants to hold "open discussions" with his supporters.