Zee Media Bureau

Ralegan Siddhi: Social activist Anna Hazare reiterated on Sunday that he was satisfied with the government`s version of the Lokpal Bill and said that most of their demands had been met.

At the same time he took a dig at Aam Aadmi Party convener, saying that if Arvind Kejriwal was not satisfied with the Bill then he should go ahead and protest.

Addressing the press in his native village at the Yadavbaba Temple where he has been fasting since December 10, Anna said, "I welcome the Lokpal Bill created by the government, most of our demands have been met."

"Government should bring Lokpal Bill in this session only," he added.

However he also said, "I won`t end my fast till the Bill is passed. I do not want to die so soon. I want to live for the country and fight for the country, for the society. I have to fight for many things like the right to reject and right to recall."

On the question regarding AAP and Kejriwal`s opposition to the bill in its present form, the social activist said, "If Kejriwal and his team find shortcomings in the Lokpal Bill, they should protest separately." "Let them do what they want to do, we will do what we want to do," he added.

Reacting to Kejriwal`s comment that he was surprised as to how Anna had accepted the government`s version of the bill, the social activist quipped, "They can say what they want to say. I do not want to say anything about them. Truth always prevails."

Meanwhile, Anna`s aide and former police officer Kiran Bedi hit out at AAP convener and said that if Arvind Kejriwal had not read the Lokpal Bill, then he should do it.

The AAP today rejected the Lokpal Bill and said that that it was a weak bill. AAP member Prashant Bhushan emphasised that the bill would not prevent corruption and it also did not provide for formation of Lokayuktas.

On the other hand, Arvind Kejriwal, while criticising the bill, said that there was no independence for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in it.

The Lokpal Bill, which had been passed by the Lok Sabha, was tabled for discussion in the Rajya Sabha on Friday. A select committee of the Upper House made certain amendments in it.

If the bill is passed in the Rajya Sabha, then it will again be brought to the Lok Sabha for approval.

The Congress has said that it was all for the passage of the bill in the Winter Session of Parliament. The party vice president Rahul Gandhi urged all parties should come together to make sure that the anti-graft bill becomes a reality. The BJP too has reaffirmed its commitment to the Lokpal Bill. Meanwhile, Congress` ally Samajwadi Party has said that it was against the passage of the bill.