Neither Modi nor Rahul fit to become PM, says Anna Hazare

Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare feels that neither Narendra Modi nor Rahul Gandhi is fit to become the prime minister of India.

Hazare, currently on a two-week tour of the US, also favoured direct election of prime minister and doing away with party-based political system, which he claimed has destroyed not only democracy, but also "usurped" the constitution. "India's constitution does not recognise political parties. Both Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi represent political parties. Therefore being representatives of political parties, we would not permit them (to become the Prime Minister)," 76-year-old Hazare told a group of Indian students at University of Maryland on Thursday evening.

"Our faith is in the Indian constitution. These political parties run against the basic spirit of the constitution. It is now important to raise awareness among the people of India. If the country needs a Prime Minister, or a President, the entire country should elect him   centralised," he said. "The country would get a good Prime Minister if the people of the entire country get an opportunity to select. As long as political parties dominate the electoral set up, the country is unlikely to get a good Prime Minister," Hazare said at the event organised by DESI (Develop Empower Synergy India), an organization of Indian students.

Earlier in the day at a Congressional reception hosted in his honor at the Capitol Hill, Hazare said that he would go back to agitation at Ramlila Maidan on the first day of the winter session of the Parliament, if the Union Government does not bring the Lokpal in the current session. Hazare said after returning from the US, he would resume his nationwide tour from Bihar, during which he would urge people to fight for achieving the goal of true democracy.

Gen (retd) VK Singh, who is accompanying Hazare, said the country is at the brink of a disaster, if immediate steps are not taken to change the way things are happening now. "It is time for action," Singh said as he urged the Indian youth to come forward and join hands with Anna to achieve the goal of systematic change in the country.