It's time to give people a political alternative: Anna Hazare

New Delhi: Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare admitted on Friday that he would consider joining politics if the people wanted him to. "If people say that Anna should enter politics, then I could think about it," he said in an exclusive interview with IBN 18 Editor-in-Chief Rajdeep Sardesai. He, however, was quick to add that he would not fight elections but support a political party that would be launched by someone willing to fight against corruption.

"I will not go into politics but I will give a political alternative to the people. I will not fight in elections. But if anyone fighting against corruption launches a political party, I will support it. I think the people are ready for an honest candidate," he said.

In Delhi for his agitation for a Special Investigation Team to probe 15 ministers of the UPA government whom he alleges to be corrupt, Anna's recent protests have seen minimal crowd attendance.

The activist admitted that he too had begun to feel that the enthusiasm amongst the people for fight against corruption was beginning to wane.

"People are coming to me and saying that only fasting or protest will not help and that I should give an alternative. But I do not think so right now," he said.

"The government too has been laggard in bringing in the Lokpal Bill. It has been two years since our protest for a strong Lokpal Bill began. May be the time has come to look at an alternative. But I still hope that the government will introduce it."

He further said that the Lokpal Bill was, is and will always be the primary demand of India Against Corruption. "First Lokpal and then inquiry against the 15 corrupt ministers... The main issue is the Lokpal Bill."

He further accused "the 15 ministers" of stalling the progress on the Lokpal Bill.

He said, however, that the mere removal of the 15 ministers would not put an end to corruption and that a concerted effort was needed to root it out. "For the benefit of the people and the country, everyone should come together and fight against corruption," he said. "I do not think that any political party, be it the Congress, the BJP or the Left, is serious about fighting against corruption. I feel it is now time to give them a political alternative," he added.

On yoga guru Ramdev

When asked about yoga guru Ramdev's political ambitions, the activist refused to comment. "I do not know if Baba Ramdev is planning to form a political party," he said.

On Salman Khurshid and the 'secret meeting'

While admitting that they did hold a meeting, he said the UPA minister had tried to break Team Anna. While Khurshid refuted the allegations, Anna said he could not believe that "anyone could lie to such an extent".

Team Anna's hitlist of the 15 Cabinet ministers

Team Anna had on May 26 accused 15 Cabinet Ministers including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of indulging in corruption. Team Anna had sent a letter sent to the Prime Minister along with several documents signed by Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal, Shanti Bhushan, Prashant Bhushan, Kiran Bedi and Manish Sisodia in which the details of alleged corruption cases were given.

The ministers against whom allegations were levelled include Home Minister P Chidambaram, former finance minister and presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, External Affairs Minister SM Krishna, Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Minister Praful Patel, Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath, Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, former Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Virbhadra Singh, Human Resources Development Minister Kapil Sibal, Shipping Minister GK Vasan, Chemical and Fertiliser Minister MK Alagiri, New and Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah, Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and Khurshid.