Anna now plans yatras to poll-bound states

Yatras and referendums against lawmakers and politicians opposing the jan lokpal bill will be the next course of action of social activist Anna Hazare and his team to press for acceptance of their version of the anti-corruption bill.

Yatras and referendums against lawmakers and politicians opposing the jan lokpal bill will be the next course of action of social activist Anna Hazare and his team to press for acceptance of their version of the anti-corruption bill.

After a two-day meeting in Hazare’s village, 85km from Pune, Team Anna on Sunday decided to carry out yatras in the coming two-and-a-half months in states where assembly elections will be held in the next six-seven months. Polls in the first part of the year are due in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Manipur.

A core committee constituted for the jan lokpal bill campaign also decided to carry out referendums in the constituencies of parliamentary standing committee members and prominent political leaders before the winter session of Parliament.

In similar referendums — before Hazare’s fast in Delhi last month — in the constituencies of Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi and union human resource development minister Kapil Sibal, around 85% people voted in favour of the jan lokpal bill, the core committee said.

“The people have already seen the result of the referendums carried out previously… If they don’t understand this time too, we will tell them chale jao. I will step out of Ralegan Siddhi after September and tour the country to convey this message,” Hazare said.

Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal said, “During our yatras, we will enlighten the people on which political party is against the jan lokpal and on which issue. The people will then be asked not to vote for such parties.”