Thaindian News

Ralegan-Siddhi (Maharashtra), Dec 6 (IANS) Anna Hazare, while admitting Tuesday that he “committed violence” when he asked if union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar’s attacker slapped him only once, hit out at the minister, saying the reasons behind the anger should also be considered.

“But for the betterment of society, I do not consider this violence as wrong. Many politicians felt very bad about the slapping incident, many of them got very angry also,” Hazare said in a post on his blog.

He said people held the person who asked the question (Hazare) more guilty than the man, Harvinder Singh, who had actually slapped Pawar.

The social activist said he had always maintained that he should not be compared with Mahatma Gandhi.

“I am not even eligible to sit at the feet of Mahatma Gandhi but his thoughts have influenced my life in a very small way, because of which I have been able to do some work in the field of rural development and non-violent struggle for the development of the country,” he added.

Hazare, recounting several instances, said poor farmers were committing suicide in Maharashtra and elsewhere, and they have been caned and shot in the recent past for demanding their rights.

“But this does not cause any anger in our agriculture-based country. This is unfortunate. Many farmers have committed suicide in Maharashtra. But this did not make any politician angry? This is unfortunate,” he pointed out.

He said that 22 years ago when the state was reeling under a power crisis, farmers were agitating and he himself went on a hunger strike but was forcibly taken to hospital after eight days.

Four farmers were killed at that time in the protests and Pawar was the chief minister, Hazare pointed out.

He alleged that Pawar imported rotten wheat which had to be buried in pits as it was inedible, leading to wastage of crores of rupees of public money.

“The politicians got so angry with that one slap that many buses were burnt, national property was destroyed, many shops were damaged, many private vehicles were damaged - but this did not make anyone angry,” he said.

Hazare said that after the Jan Lokpal bill is enacted, “we will have to start a movement” for action against the ministers.