Former colleagues can join the March 23 movement sans party, politics: Anna Hazare

GUWAHATI: Noted Gandhian, Anna Hazare on Friday said that his former colleagues can join the proposed nationwide Satyagraha from March 23, 2018 demanding implementation of Jan Lokpal Bill sans party and politics.

Hazare is in Northeast India to garner support for the agitation. On Saturday Hazare will address a rally in Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh.India Against Corruption movement in 2011 received substantial support from Northeast India.


Hazare will tour Bihar, Rajasthan, Haryana and Karnataka shortly.

When asked if he will be allow his former colleagues to join the movement, Hazare said, “ They can join the movement however they will have to sans party, which I am sure they will not do.”

Delhi Chief Minister, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was Anna’s colleague, he parted ways of Anna and formed Aam Admi party (AAP) to contest Delhi assembly polls in 2015.

Another colleague, Kiran Bedi joined BJP and was chief ministerial candidate during Delhi assembly polls, later she became Governor of Puducherry.

Attacking NDA government, Hazare said, “A report after 18 month of intense study has pointed out that India tops the chart among the Asian countries in terms of corruption. While Dr Manmohan Singh led government cheated the people and came out with weak Lokpal bill, Narendra Modi government failed to implement the same.”

Hazare said that tweaking of law relating to corporate donation to political parties has garnered Rs 80,000 Crore for ruling party in last five months. “Narendra Modi promised corruption free India however the government changed the provision relating to 7.5 percent of profit of company can come as donation to political parties in three years, the amended law states that a company can give as much donation as it wants to a political party.”

He said while the common people are still reeling under problems, the farmers of the country are suffering. Banks give loans to the farmers but slap interest as per their whims and fancies. RBI must fix a rate of interest for all the farmers. The farmers commit suicide as they fail to get good price for the crops to repay the loan.

Hazare added, “I have been silent for last three years. When a new government comes we must give them some time. So I remained silent for last three years. I had written 32 letters to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi within this 3 years’ time but none of them were responded by the Prime Minister or his office.”