New Delhi, July 18 (IANS) With Anna Hazare announcing he was going on an indefinite fast from Aug 16 over his demand for a strong Lokpal bill, the Congress Monday took potshots at the social activist, saying he should reply to comments by the Justice P.B. Sawant panel about a trust he is associated with.

Congress spokesman Manish Tewari said the Justice Sawant committee had raised some questions about Hazare's organisation. However, he did not name the organisation.

"People who preach morality to the country need to see their face in the mirror... It is not a question of how the government acted (on the Justice Sawant panel report). When morality is preached and when a probe panel raises questions then a reply must be given," Tewari said.

Replying to questions about plans by Hazare to move court against the government's plans to "suppress" his fast, Tewari said that if Hazare had been a part of a political agitation he would have liberated himself from fear of police.

"It seems there is excessive fear of the police baton," Tewari said.

Sources said the Justice Sawant committee had listed improprieties in the running of Hind Swaraj Trust founded by Hazare. The Sawant committee was set up by the Maharashtra government in 2003 to probe Hazare's allegations of corruption against four state ministers, but one of the ministers made counter allegations against the social activist.

Hazare said the government should institute an inquiry against his trusts if it found any corruption.