72-year-old social crusader Anna Hazare, who began his indefinite fast on Tuesday, demanding enactment of an anti-corruption bill to give wider powers to the Ombudsman, today lambasted the congress party for describing his fast as unnecessary and premature.

“How is it premature and unnecessary? For the last 42 years, the country’s people are waiting for such a bill and why can’t the government act on the demand?” he asked angrily at his Jantar Mantar fasting camp in Delhi on the second day of his fast.

It may be mentioned that the congress party has described his agitation as unnecessary and premature soon after he had launched his fast.

Asserting that he would continue his fast till the government agrees to have citizens’ participation in the drafting of the legislation, the anti-corruption crusader, who was supported by thousands of people across the nation in his campaign, said he lost faith in all political parties and wanted to launch the movement against corruption himself.

“I see a national uprising against corruption throughout the country and the government can’t neglect my demand,” he said and added that the Prime Minister should not turn a blind eye towards corruption. “The PM should not yield to the pressures of the coalition partners and must take some concrete steps towards formulating the bill” he said.