Hazare being controlled by unknown forces: Ashok Gehlot

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has alleged that the anti-graft movement initiated by veteran social activist Anna Hazare was a part of a conspiracy by unknown local or foreign forces.u00a0

Talking to mediapersons here, Gehlot said: "I just want to say that Anna Hazare''s movement is directly or indirectly, knowingly or unknowingly being controlled by some local or foreign forces and it appears the atmosphere being created today is a part of some conspiracy."u00a0

Gehlot further condemned Hazare for commenting against Rahul Gandhi even though the young leader had advocated for giving constitutional rights to the much-debated Lokpal Bill.u00a0

"Anna Hazare is commenting against Rahul Gandhi even when he has advocated to give constitutional status to the Ombudsman bill. Giving constitutional rights to the Bill will have its own significance and you are condemning that?, he asked.u00a0

Taking a dig at Hazare''s popularity, Gehlot said that he smelt conspiracy when thousands of people turned up to support the veteran social activist in New Delhi at a time when senior opposition leader like L K Advani who had dedicated his life in Indian politics failed to attract a crowd of even 5000 people.u00a0

" LK Advani could not attract more than 5,000 people at his public meeting even though he has spent his entire life in politics but thousands gathered for Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev. How do they arrange it? Be it local or foreign forces, we cannot imagine the conspiracy behind the entire movement," he added.u00a0

On Sunday, Hazare observed a daylong protest fast in New Delhi to pressurise the government for passing a strong Lokpal bill in the ongoing Winter Session of the Parliament.u00a0

The 74-year-old social activist has also warned the government that he would sit on an indefinite fast from December 27 at the Ramlila Maidan here if a strong Lokpal Bill is not passed in the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament.u00a0