– Vinayak Barot
NEW DELHI, Dec 22: Social activist Anna Hazare has sought permission from the Delhi government for Ramlila Maidan to launch indefinite hunger strike in support of the current farmers’ agitation, his office said.
His office issued the release on Tuesday after a delegation of senior BJP leaders from Maharashtra called on the social activist at his native village Ralegaon Siddhi with a request not to join the farmers’ agitation.
The release issued by his office said, “Anna Hazare also informed the BJP delegation that since his demands related to farmers have not been fulfilled, he has also asked for permission at Ram Leela Maidan in Delhi for protest.”
Hazare stuck to his decision to join the agitation in support of the farmers despite the BJP delegation coming to him with the request not to join the farmers’ stir and assuring him that the central government would soon convene a meeting with the agitating farmers to discuss the issues and break the deadlock. The release issued by his office acknowledged the assurance given by the delegation to this effect stating that “the delegation assured Hazare that soon a meeting will be called by central leaders to discuss his demands related to farmers.”
The BJP delegation comprising senior leaders Haribhau Bagade and Bhagwat Karad met Anna Hazare a few hours after Anna warned the Central government over farmers’ on-going protest in Delhi and said he might go for hunger strike if demands of protesting farmers are not met.
Anna Hazare had written a letter to the Centre last week about the pending demands related to farmers and threatened to go on agitation for them. Anna had received a written assurance from the Centre of steps being taken in relations to his demands related to farmers.
The BJP delegation which requested him not to join the farmers’ agitation, also handed him over the copies of the three contentious acts claiming that the measures would largely benefit the farmers. The delegation also informed him about the assurances given by the prime minister Narendra Modi a few days back that the “New laws will benefit the farmers’ of the nation and will increase the income of farmers.” They pointed out that Modi had also appealed to the opposition parties with folded hands “not to mislead and misguide” the farmers.
The ruling BJP apparently is worried that that the farmers’ protest against three farm laws in Delhi may become more aggressive if Anna Hazare joined the fray.