Slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government at the Centre, veteran Gandhian and social activist Anna Hazare on Friday said that he is going to start a fresh movement for Jan Lokpal and for the welfare of farmers of the country from March 23 next year.
The social activist who was in Guwahati as part of a tour of the North-East region to garner support for his movement further said that the present Government has given more emphasis on the interests of the industrialists of the country than the farmers.
“Rs 80,000 crore has come to the coffers of the ruling party in last five months. However, the farmers are still suffering. There is no minimum support price (MSP) for them and banks charge interests as per their choice from the farmers. The poor farmers cannot repay the loans and commit suicide,” said Hazare while expressing his displeasure.
“I have remained silent and not spoken a word against the Government for last three years.
It was a new Government and needed time. However, now time has come to speak. I have written 32 letters to the Prime Minister over Jan Lokpal and farmers’ issues in last three years and not a single letter was replied,” said Hazare, who is also scheduled to address a rally at Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday.
“A report after 18 month of intense study has pointed out that India tops the chart among the Asian countries in terms of corruption,” Hazare said adding that while Dr Manmohan Singh led UPA Government cheated the people and came out with weak Lokpal Bill, Narendra Modi Government failed to implement the same.
“Narendra Modi promised corruption free India however the Government changed the provision relating to 7.5 per cent 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.
Asked about his former colleagues joining the March 23 movement, the veteran Gandhian leader said that they can join the Satyagraha from March 23 next year if they come leaving their political party affiliations.
“They can join the movement however they will have to come without their party, which I am sure they will not do,” said Hazare.
While his former colleague Arvind Kejriwal parted ways of Anna and formed Aam Admi party (AAP) to contest Delhi Assembly elections in 2015, another colleague, Kiran Bedi also joined BJP and was Chief Ministerial candidate during Delhi Assembly polls, later she became Governor of Puducherry.