Relieve me from all groups of ministers on corruption, says Sharad Pawar

Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, who is under attack from anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare, today said he would be happy if he was relieved from the group of ministers (GoM) on corruption.

When asked to react on Hazare's remarks about him, Pawar made light of the issue, but said: "I will be happy if you relieve me from all GoMs, including that GoM (on corruption)".

Pawar was asked whether he was disturbed by the comments that he should not be part of the GoM on corruption.

Hazare, who has been on an indefinite fast here since yesterday, is pressing for enactment of the Lok Pal Bill with stringent measures against corruption.

The seventy-two-year old social activist, supported by eminent persons including Kiran Bedi, has been demanding that the drafting committee for the Lok Pal Bill to tackle corruption should include members of civil society.

Displaying a lack of trust in some members of the GoM, he had said on Monday, "A minister like Sharad Pawar, who is known for possessing large amounts of land in Maharashtra, is heading a committee that will draft the Bill."

The ministerial panel is headed by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and comprises home minister P Chidambaram, defence minister AK Antony, railway minister Mamata Banerjee, law minister Veerappa Moily, parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, chemicals and fertiliser minister MK Alagiri and telecommunications minister Kapil Sibal.