All charged up after a colourful kick-off of the motor rally, Hazare spoke to the press before addressing the 250-odd gathering at Azad Maidan on Tuesday.
All charged up after a colourful kick-off of the motor rally, activist Anna Hazare spoke to the press before addressing the 250-odd gathering at Azad Maidan on Tuesday.
Team Anna informed the press in Mumbai that a fresh discussion with the Parliamentary Standing Committee would be held on Wednesday. The announcement was made by activist Arvind Kejriwal who was chairing a meeting with Anna Hazare at the Press Club. Hazare is in the city to generate support for draft Lokpal Bill that is prepared by his team.
“We have been called by the Parliamentary Standing Committee tomorrow at 5pm. But largely our demands are going to be the same and if they are not met, we will continue with the hunger strike. I would request you not go to work for a week in the interest of the nation,” said Kejriwal.
Hazare blamed the government for backtracking from holding the discussion, the reason for which he said the “andolan” had to be called.
“There were nine points over which we had differences for which they said they would talk later. However, they never discussed those points. The present bill thus is ineffectual,” said Hazare, surrounded by some representatives of the over 80 associations supporting them.
“If they do not give us space, we will fast inside the jail. But our agitation will be peaceful even if they blow lathis and bullets on us,” Hazare said at the press conference.
“Ramdev has not contacted us but if he does, we will think about it. I do not need to fight elections as I can do more by being outside.”
The septuagenarian, who later addressed a rally at the Azad Maidan, slammed the government. Attended by over 250 people that were a mix of professionals and some party workers, they later joined Anna’s torch march to August Kranti Maidan after burning the draft Lokpal Bill of the government.
“They have just done two things —bhukhand and shirkhand. One government graduated in corruption while the other managed a doctorate,” said Hazare.
Kejriwal said, “There is not one scam in the past that can be probed by the present draft of the government.”
Mumbai BJP president Raj Purohit also joined in the Azad Maidan rally with his party workers.
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