Pawar quits GoM on corruption, Hazare continues fast, writes

New Delhi, Apr 6 (PTI) Indian Union Agriculture Minister
Sharad Pawar on Wednesday quit the Group of Ministers(GoM) on
corruption stung by Anna Hazare questioning his credentials,
as the anti-graft crusader told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
he was not being "instigated" to go an indefinite fast.
With the 'fast unto death' by 72-year-old Hazare entering
the second day, Government and the Congress also made attempts
to mollify him but he showed no signs of calling off his stir.
As support from the civil society grew for Hazare's
campaign, political leaders like O P Chautala and Uma Bharti
wanting to make common cause with the social activist and
share the dais with him at Jantar Mantar were were shouted out
by his supporters. They had to make a hasty retreat.
Pawar, the chief of key UPA ally NCP, said on Wednesday
night he has written a letter to the Prime Minister informing
him that he does not want to be remain with the Ministerial
panel. The panel is headed by Finance Minister Pranab
Mukherjee.
"I have told Prime Minister in writing about quitting
the GoM on corruption. I have informed him that I don't want
to remain anymore with the panel. I don't want to be
associated with it. The chapter is closed from my side", Pawar
told PTI on Wednesday night.
But Hazare, who hails from Maharashtra and apparently
emboldened by the support he was getting, said Pawar's
decision to quit the GoM on corruption would "not serve any
purpose" and upped the ante demanding that he resign from the
Union Cabinet too.
Pawar's action came hours after he said that he would be
happy to be relieved from all ministerial panels, including
that on corruption.
"I will be happy if you relieve me from all GoMs,
including that GoM (on corruption)," Pawar had remarked
earlier while replying to a query from reporters whether he
was disturbed by Hazare's comments that the minister should
not be part of the GoM on Corruption.
Displaying a lack of trust in some members of the GoM,
he had said, "A minister like Sharad Pawar, who is known for
possessing large amounts of land in Maharashtra, is heading a
committee that will draft the (Lok Pal) Bill."
Hazare is demanding enactment of a strong anti-corruption
bill to give wider powers to the Ombudsman. He is pressing for
formation of a joint committee comprising 50 per cent
officials and the remaining being citizens and intellectuals
to draft the Bill.
In a strongly worded letter to the prime minister, Hazare
said insinuations that his indefinite fast was instigated were
an "insult" to his wisdom.
"Dear Manmohan Singhji, this is an insult to my sense
of wisdom and intelligence...I take advice from many friends
and critics but do what my conscience directs me to do," he
said.
In his letter, Hazare also alleged, "many of the members
of this Group of Ministers have such a shady past that if
effective anti-corruption systems had been in place, some of
them would have been behind bars."