Hazare targets Manmohan for keeping PM's post out of Lokpal

Targeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Anna Hazare today termed as "unfortunate" his justification for keeping his post out of the purview of the proposed Lokpal and wondered whether the "honest" person was telling lies.

Hazare questioned the government's intentions on the Lokpal Bill and said he was ready to go to jail if he was not allowed to  demanding a strong anti-corruption law.

He made it clear that he was not insisting on undertaking the fast at Jantar Mantar because for him the issue is more important than the venue.

Addressing a press conference here, the noted civil rights activist reacted strongly to the Prime Minister's justification of keeping his post out of the ambit of Lokpal.

"This statement is unfortunate. Till now, the people of the country and me too felt that we have an honest and non-corrupt Prime Minister," Hazare said.

"..our fight is not against Parliament but against the government. I have written a letter to him (PM) and even after that if he is saying this, it is unfortunate. Many people in the government are telling lies. The Prime Minister was a good person and even if he is telling lies then what will happen," he said but did not elaborate.

Singh yesterday said bringing the office of Prime Minister under the ambit of Lokpal would "not be advisable" and government has taken the decision after "taking all factors into account". He had earlier favoured inclusion of the office of Prime Minister under Lokpal.