Cong-led UPA will be voted out if Jan Lokpal Bill not passed: Bedi

Ahmednagar: People must vote against the ruling alliance at Centre led by Congress if it failed to pass the Jan Lokpal bill in the ongoing winter session of Parliament, social activist and former IPS officer Kiran Bedi said at Ralegan Siddhi village where Anna Hazare is observing fast for passage of the bill.

"People of India have given a clear message in recent Assembly polls to UPA government. People have chosen a corruption-free alternative (in AAP in Delhi election) due to awareness created by Anna`s movement since 2011," Bedi said addressing a gathering of supporters of Hazare whose indefinite hunger strike entered second day on Wednesday. Bedi, who had actively participated in the veteran Gandhian`s Jan Lokpal movement that galvanised the nation, held over two-hour-long discussion with Hazare at Yadav Baba temple, the venue of his fast. "The emerging youth power will bend the adamant politics of India in a democratic way," she said. Bedi said the nation wanted to know why opposition parties are "silent" over the anti-graft legislation drafted by civil society activists, which seeks appointment of an independent panel to investigate cases of corruption. "Government should not play with the sentiments of people...If it does so it will have to pay heavy price in coming elections," she said. Bedi`s comments came against the backdrop of altered political narrative in the country in the wake of spectacular victory of Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party, mainly on idealism, in Delhi polls. AAP was born out of Jan Lokpal movement spearheaded by Hazare. Hazare has already clarified that he would not relent on his agitation unless the government passes the bill in Parliament.