Cong and NCP leaders visit Anna, ask him not to go on fast again

As activist's team draws up action plan for Jan Lokpal bill awareness, netas say Hazare needs to take care of health

Cong and NCP leaders visit Anna, ask him not to go on fast again

As activist's team draws up action plan for Jan Lokpal bill awareness, netas say Hazare needs to take care of health

Ralegansiddhi has been teeming with people keen to meet anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare the last couple of days. Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi, the core members of Hazare's team in his recent agitation in Delhi for the Jan Lokpal bill, were also in town.

Man on mission: Anna Hazare on hunger strike at Ramlila Ground in
Delhi last month. Pic/Subhash Barolia

Nationwide tour
It is learnt that Kejriwal and bedi have decided that the next step would be to persuade MPs who are not in favour of the Jan Lokpal bill to come over to their side. Hazare's followers and people who are part of his campaign revealed that the activist's team had decided on a nationwide tour to be undertaken by him in October and November to educate people and create awareness on the Jan Lokpal bill.

Poll reform demand
Hazare's followers also said that the right to reject a candidate should be introduced in elections for MPs. They said the Election Commission should introduce this for democracy to be effective. Hazare was constantly meeting visitors the past few days.

Yesterday he met people who had come all the way from Rajasthan and Haryana. While interacting with them, Hazare said: "I am not God. My aim is to get good people from all parties to create a nation which is cleansed of corruption." Leaders from the ruling NCP and Congress parties were also queuing up to meet Hazare. State Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat met Hazare on Sunday and requested him not to think of fasting again for the sake of his health. Bavan Rao Pajpute from Ahmednagar also visited Hazare yesterday and requested the same. "We have also asked Hazare to accept the Z security given by the state government," he said.