Anna Hazare to launch protest demanding Lokpal implementation

Social activist Anna Hazare on Wednesday announced his decision to launch an agitation demanding implementation of the Lokpal.

"Corruption has increased to a level that it has crossed all lines. My conscience is asking me to re-launch the agitation. I will announce the date of this agitation in another letter to be sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi shortly," Hazare told ANI.

He added that his decision to start the agitation has been conveyed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a letter sent on Tuesday.

"To curb the corruption to an extent, we asked the Centre to implement Lokpal as a new law in 2011. Public was in favor of this move. At least 40 times I talked to then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, but that government was not ready to take this into consideration. Therefore, I led a hunger strike," he said.

He further said that he was also disappointed with the inaction by the Narendra Modi government when it came to dealing with corruption.

"The Modi government came into power and we hoped that this new government will implement Lokpal and Lokayukt as they assured us that as soon as they come into power they will pass the laws," he said.

He further said no party wants to execute the Lokpal and Lokayukt because they are scared of losing power adding, the state governments should have implemented it.

"I wrote 40 letters to Manmohan Singh and got a reply for 20. I wrote several letters to Narendra Modi but did not receive a single reply", Hazare said.

The social activist pointed out that the present government's assurance to end corruption is not translated into a reality and common people still have to grease palms to get their work done.