Patna, Jan 29 : Veteran social activist Anna Hazare on Tuesday said that he was not at all impressed with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi''''s assurances that the Lokpal Bill will be passed in the upcoming Budget Session, and added that the ruling Congress Party at the Centre has no intention of having a corruption free country.

Talking about the letter written by Sonia Gandhi, Hazare said they have been giving false assurances to the people from the last two years and have no intension of having a corruption free country.

"Recently, I received the letter from Sonia Gandhi which assured that the Lokpal Bill would be passed, but they have been giving these assurances from last two years and are cheating us. If they were willing to bring the Lokpal Bill, then it does not take two years for that," Hazare told the media here.

"They are not formulating the bill which shows that there intentions are not good and they are not willing to root out corruption from the country and that is the reason they are delaying things," he added.

Gandhi had earlier written a letter to Hazare with assurance that the Lokpal Bill will be passed in the upcoming Budget Session.

Hazare said the issue is not just limited to corruption, and added that there is a need to bring change in the whole system.

"The issue is not just limited to corruption, now it is about changing the whole system. We have to end corruption but simultaneously we have to change the system. There is question of farmers, labourers, backward classes, the gap between upper and lower cast and poor and rich is increasing and we will start a nationwide tour and awaken people about all these issues," he said.

Hazare said he would begin with his nationwide tour in March to awaken people about the problems and the steps to be taken in that regard.

"It is the duty of the government to pass the Lokpal Bill and this is the reason why the public has elected them to the government. The government is formed by the public and when the people demand the government to take steps for its welfare, then they refuse to do so," he said.

The Lokpal Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha in 2011, but it faced hurdles in the Rajya Sabha due to strong opposition from political parties, including some of the UPA constituents, on some measures.

The proposed bill envisages the setting up of a national anti-corruption watchdog to check financial mismanagement and corrupt practices that have deeply pervaded several democratic and civic institutions of India. (ANI)