The Anna Hazare group toughened its stance on the Lokpal bill, warning that the Gandhian would launch a fast-unto-death if the government did not meet the August 15 deadline set by them for promulgation of the law on the antigraft ombudsman. Hazare renewed his ultimatum at a fast he observed in front of Rajghat to protest the raid on Ramdev’s camp amid a gathering of his protesters and a huge police posse. Hazare shrugged off the charge that he was trying to arm-twist the government. “If this is blackmail, we will do this till we die,” he said amid cheers from the gathering that included Ramdev supporters. The threat of a fast-unto-death sets a stiff task for the government considering the monsoon session begins only in the third week of July and the fact that there has been no consultations with the opposition. The group on Wednesday again ruled out any compromise on its insistence to bring the prime minister, the higher judiciary and the conduct of MPs inside Parliament within Lokpal’s jurisdiction. The Hazare group also threatened a countrywide stir if its demand and deadline were not complied with.
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