Anna to meet all parties.

Calcutta Telegraph; Wednesday , June 29 , 2011,
Mumbai; Social activist Anna Hazare today said he will organise an all-party meet to have dialogue with all political party representatives over the Lokpal bill before launching his second hunger strike on August 16 in New Delhi.

Addressing a media conference at Patrakar Bhavan in Pune this evening, Hazare said he was open to holding talks with chiefs of all political parties including Congress president Sonia Gandhi and BJP leader L.K. Advani.

He said he will continue with his plan to launch a second hunger strike if his demands are not fulfilled.

Asked if the government evicts him from Jantar Mantar like it did to Baba Ramdev, Hazare said: “Even if the government intervenes or they pump bullets in my chest instead of using lathi, I will continue with my strike in jail if they won’t let me carry on my hunger strike at Jantar Mantar or at Raj Ghat. I am ready to die for the sake of my country and I would be proud if I get a martyr’s death....”

He said his agitations over past 20 years has resulted in the removal of six “corrupt” cabinet ministers from Maharashtra and over 400 corrupt officials. He said: “Maharashtra has taken the lead in bringing the Right to Information Act which has exposed corruption scandals like Adarsh housing and the Common Wealth Games scam.”

“Under RTI, the government official gives you information about where and how the corruption is taking place, but the act does not provide for arresting the corrupt officials. The Lokpal bill has such provisions to send corrupt people to jail,” Hazare said, adding that he would tour across India to create awareness about the bill provisions.