Anna supporters show black flag to PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh began the new year on a discomforting note on Sunday as he faced the ghost of 2011- the charge of the Anna brigade- with supporters of the social activist showing him black flags outside the Golden Temple here.

The PM with his wife Gursharan Kaur visited the Golden Temple on Sunday morning to pray on the New Year occasion.

A group of about 40 supporters of Anna had gathered outside and shouted slogans. They hailed Anna Hazare and denounced the government for failing to pass a strong Lokpal Bill.

The PM was in the temple very early in the morning.

His visit was termed by officials as a "private one".

2011 had been a tough year for the Prime Minister and his United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government with Lokpal Bill debates and corruption troubles continuously hurting the central government.

In what is being alleged as the ruling Congress party´s orchestrated and pre-planned strategy of creating chaos in the House and thereby stall passage of the Lokpal Bill, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die at midnight Thursday leaving the anti-corruption ombudsman law in limbo despite its passage in Lok Sabha.

The government action evoked strong reactions from Opposition which called the Congress cowards and murderer of democracy and said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should resign.

The PM, however, in his New Year speech said: " It is unfortunate that the Bill could not be passed in the Rajya Sabha. However, our Government is committed to the enactment of an effective Lok Pal Act."

He expressed satisfaction that the Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha.