Social activist Anna Hazare, who entered the second day of his indefinite fast, today slammed the Congress for “misleading” the people by dubbing his agitation as unnecessary and premature.

72-year-old Hazare, who is demanding enactment of an anti-corruption bill to give wider powers to the Ombudsman, said, “The party’s (Congress) statement is misleading people.

Why is this agitation unnecessary and how is it premature? 42 years the nation has been in need of such a bill. Why can’t the government enact it?”

He asserted that he would not end his fast unto death till the government agrees to have citizens’ participation in the drafting of the legislation.

When pointed out that the BJP too had embarked on an anti-corruption campaign today, the reformist said the party was taking advantage of the nationwide movement he had begun.

“But, they are a political party and are free to do as they wish. In the past too, when I agitated against corruption in the BJP government, the Congress party supported me. Now, it’s the other way around”, Mr. Hazare said.

Yesterday, BJP leaders Maneka Gandhi and Prakash Javadekar visited Hazare’s protest site at Jantar Mantar but did not make any speeches.

JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav too sat on the dais with Mr. Hazare and offered his support for the Jan Lokpal Bill and even said he was ready to take it up in Parliament.

Mr. Hazare said he would not allow politicians to sit with him on the dais anymore.

The anti-corruption champion began his fast yesterday and has been joined by thousands of people.

Hazare said he did not have faith in the government or any political party and decided to take things in his own hands.

“How can they say I am using pressure tactics. Just as we sought an audience with the Prime Minister for the Jan Lokpal bill, we also tried to meet Sonia Gandhi. She did not even reply”, Mr. Hazare claimed.

On the response from the Prime Minister, the social activist said, “He (Prime Minister) should not turn a blind eye towards corruption in his government and should muster the courage to not succumb to the pressures of coalition politics“.

He said this protest was different from his previous ones as he saw a national uprising against corruption.