Anna congratulates President Pranab Mukherjee

Veteran social activist Anna Hazare, who is taking part in an anti-corruption protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, has wished Pranab Mukherjee on becoming India's 13th President.

Veteran social activist Anna Hazare, who is taking part in an anti-corruption protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, has wished Pranab Mukherjee on becoming India's 13th President.

HT Image

"He has become the first citizen of India, I congratulate him," Hazare said. "He is an important man of the nation. I wish him luck," he added.

Team Anna on Wednesday began its indefinite hunger strike here, demanding an independent probe into the corruption allegations against 15 ministers, including President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal, who is spearheading agitation, attacked President Mukherjee, saying they will continue to raise allegations against him.

Team Anna had earlier named Mukherjee among 15 union ministers against whom they had demanded an independent probe into their allegations of corruption.

"According to The Constitution, the President has immunity against any investigation. We have given evidence against Mukherjee to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi two months ago. But there was no probe. In the name of The Constitution, now the government has masked the allegations against him. We condemn this," Kejriwal said.

At the protest site, Team Anna covered Mukherjee's photograh with a cloth as Kejriwal alleged that Congress has now managed to put a sheet on the allegations against its leader.

Earlier on Tuesday, Hazare hit out at the government, accusing the government of repeatedly going back on its promises. "The aim is to campaign for a Lokpal Bill.The government is only giving us assurances, but takes no action," he had said.

Hazare would sit on indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar from Sunday, four days after his aides Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Gopal Rai kickstart their campaign.

Team Anna has demanded setting up of a Special Investigation Team to probe corruption allegations against Union Ministers, besides constituting a fast track court to try cases against MPs and a strong Lokpal Bill.