Pawar quits GoM on corruption, Hazare continues fast

Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today quit the Group of Ministers (GoM) on corruption stung by Anna Hazare questioning his credentials, as the anti-graft crusader told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh he was not being "instigated" to go an indefinite fast.

With the 'fast unto death' by 72-year-old Hazare entering the second day, the government and Congress also made attempts to mollify him but he showed no signs of calling off his stir.

As support from the civil society grew for Hazare's campaign, political leaders like OP Chautala and Uma Bharti wanting to make common cause with the social activist and share the dais with him at Jantar Mantar were were shouted out by his supporters. They had to make a hasty retreat.

Pawar, the chief of key UPA ally NCP, said tonight he has written a letter to the Prime Minister informing him that he does not want to be remain with the Ministerial panel. The panel is headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

"I have told Prime Minister in writing about quitting the GoM on corruption. I have informed him that I don't want to remain anymore with the panel. I don't want to be associated with it. The chapter is closed from my side," Pawar told PTI tonight.

But Hazare, who hails from Maharashtra and apparently emboldened by the support he was getting, said Pawar's decision to quit the GoM on corruption would "not serve any purpose" and upped the ante demanding that he resign from the Union Cabinet too.

Pawar's action came hours after he said that he would be happy to be relieved from all ministerial panels, including that on corruption.

"I will be happy if you relieve me from all GoMs, including that GoM (on corruption)," Pawar had remarked earlier while replying to a query from reporters whether he was disturbed by Hazare's comments that the minister should not be part of the GoM on Corruption.

Displaying a lack of trust in some members of the GoM, he had said, "A minister like Sharad Pawar, who is known for possessing large amounts of land in Maharashtra, is heading a committee that will draft the (Lokpal) Bill."

Hazare is demanding enactment of a strong anti-corruption Bill to give wider powers to the Ombudsman. He is pressing for formation of a joint committee comprising 50 per cent officials and the remaining being citizens and intellectuals to draft the Bill.

In a strongly worded letter to the prime minister, Hazare said insinuations that his indefinite fast was instigated were an "insult" to his wisdom.

"Dear Manmohan Singhji, this is an insult to my sense of wisdom and intelligence. I take advice from many friends and critics but do what my conscience directs me to do," he said.

In his letter, Hazare also alleged, "many of the members of this GoM have such a shady past that if effective anti-corruption systems had been in place, some of them would have been behind bars."