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Apparently Hazare hadn’t received the memo. We found him sitting beneath a vast peepal tree in the courtyard of the village’s Padmavati Temple, a sprawling compound which serves as both office and residence for Hazare. He was dressed in his usual outfit of white khadi kurta pajama topped by a jaunty topi, listening to the complaints of some local auto workers. If he was tired he didn’t show it. Once the meeting wrapped up he beckoned us into the small, pink-walled room where he sleeps on an iron cot.
In the weeks since he ended his 12-day fast, he has largely been resting in Ralegan Siddhi. Sitting cross-legged on a thin mattress, a chipper and smiling Hazare spoke to us about Mahatma Gandhi, the rifts within his social movement, how he spends his days and his plan for politics.
Some people compare you to Gandhi. How do you feel about that comparison?
That is not fair. I am not able to even sit at Gandhi’s feet. But I try to follow his philosophy.
Your fasts have been called political blackmail. Is that fair?
What do you mean, blackmail? Am I asking for money? They have forgotten the constitution. In 1950, the people became owners of this country. Because all the people cannot go to Parliament, we have elected [politicians] to make good laws and to take care of the treasury. If they are not making good laws and not keeping the treasury clean, if I protest against that, it is not blackmail.
How do you spend your day?
I get up at 5. I do one-and-half hours of yoga, pranayama, then meditation. At 8:30, people start coming. This continues till evening. In between I find time to write letters. I sleep at 10.
What do you eat every day?
Roti and vegetables, one time per day. In the morning I take milk. In the evening I take one glass of juice.
Thousands of people came out to support your fast. Are you worried that people’s expectations of change are too high?
This question occurs to me, also. I don’t have wealth. I live in a temple. How can a man like me, who lives in a temple, fulfill the expectations of people all across the country? What can I do? But I have faith in God that whatever the expectations of the people, somehow God will find a way for these things to be done.
What is next for you? What are your aspirations?
I don’t have any aspirations. I do my selfless work.
Do you want to be prime minister? Get into politics?
This is muck for me. I will neither contest elections nor make a party nor go into politics. But in four or five years, if I get good people, I will ask them to fight elections.
Some accuse you of having contempt for democracy.
People of character and principle should sit in these positions. (Parliament) is the holy temple of democracy. Holy people should go there. In our Parliament today there are 150 people with criminal backgrounds.
Among your allies are Prashant Bhushan, who criticizes economic liberalisation, and Arvind Kejriwal, who has been criticised for saying overly harsh things about the prime minister. Do you agree with them, and is there disunity among your senior leaders?
I will try to change them. There were some ego problems. From the government side it was Chidambaram and Kapil Sibal. From our side also there were some issues. I was not getting the right feedback, nor was the prime minister. That complicated the issues. Later, Vilasrao Deshmukh and another minister got involved and direct contact with the PM was established. I have an old relationship with Vilasrao. Then the issues were resolved. They (Bhushan and Kejriwal) are good people. I need to change them. I will change them. Lydia Polgreen & Hari Kumar
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Why Mr Anna, do you think Kejriwall, Bedi and the Bhushans are not good enough to fight elections. Then why do you keep company of such people. Or may be you have your own vicisious design in the grab of fighting corruption.
ALL LIKE MINDED MPs FROM CONGRESS, BJP, COMMUNIST AND FROM OTHER NATIONAL PARTIES MUST RESIGN AND GO AND MEET ANNA HAZARE AND FORM NEW NATIONAL PARTY (INDIA SECULAR PARTY) WITH WRITTEN PROMISE THAT THEY WILL WORK IN THE INTEREST OF INDIA AND INDIANS. ALL PEOPLE OF INDIA WILL VOTE THEM FOR SUPPORTING ANNA HAZARE AND THE JAN LOKPAL BILL. JAI HIND.
Hazare will not get good people like duriodhana!
Dear Anna Hazareji, Sorry to mention that there are no uncorrupt politicians nor are there trustworthy individuals who would join politics to govern our country. Even though the present opposition party boosts of its moral and clean stand on the issue(s) of corruption, it must be reminded that they were also caught on corruption charges when they were in power. However, one can certainly agree that the present opposition are not as corrupt as the ruling party in the centre (meaning that they are only petty thieves not gangsters !).
Annaji's struggle to have a clean India continues,We Indians will benefit if he has political office.Most people say he should not.I say why not,is he not better than existing MPs.Wont we benfit if such person is in parliament.We Indians will be glad even if he supports clean people,Annaji create more Annaji's who can become MPs.I am anna,you are Anna,Lets have all MPs who are Anna.
well when i read about people like sanjeev bhatt(IPS from Gujrat) i find these are the type of people who should be respected its very easy to say I am ANNA if every one else is saying I AM ANNA, and ANNA wants entire JUDICIARY, PARLIAMENT and BUREAUCRACY reporting to Lokpal which should be headed by him and his affliates there by threatening every one to do what he wants or else he has powerful lokepal which he can use against them, think of a situation if he goes out of mind or his team becomes arrogant then they can use this power for any means of misuse and then we will have another HITLER, MUSOLINI, ARFAT OR SADDAM IN MAKING
CORRUPT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE RELIGION OR CASTE. CORRUPTIONS DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH RELIGION OR CASTE. ALL MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS, HINDUS, SIKHS, BUDDHISTS ARE AGAINST CORRUPTIONS AND DO NOT SUPPORT THEM WHO ARE AGAINST JAN LOKPAL BILL. JAI HIND.
only a small flock of despicable professional politicians who embraced politics as a business and who manoeuvred a group of people of similar interest throne the parliament repeatedly with very nominal margin of votes befooling the majority of desperate people making fraudulent promises and giving deceptive hope and dividing them in the name of seculrism. They also like to think on the pattern of old kings that the God has destined them for ruling and looting the poor masses and establish the rule of their dynasty.
Anna ji good or bad who will decide. you and me the selfish people. who never sacrifices and bothers about society.He may be good or may be bad but he is fighting for good cause. lets support him.Can any of us has sacrifices as he did? can any of us has adopted his life style? its very easier to point figure at others. can any one tell why and how the politician and bureaucrats PROSPER FASTER THEN ORINARY PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE.
No doubt Gandhi is our ideology,is there any parameters made not cross the vision of Gandhi.I think no.so we all could stand on our own names like Anna ji & Baba ramdev.
Finally Anna Ji has acknowledge that in a democracy the only route to power is elections. Anna ji learns quickly. Not long before he accepts that Political parties are also a must in democracy and then he will have to choose which party will have him.
Not publishing my comments as you find it offensive. What is wrong in calling a spade a spade.
ANNA ,It is the request of most of people that you should take one step further by entering into politics by selecting right people.The present scenerio will not be doing any thing in favor of JLB.We should have generous ,hardworking and people who committed to public service needed in the parliament.This is only possible if you will make brave attempt.JAI BHARAT
He is duped the public, VHP and RSS were behind in all his course of fasting. This is nothing but BJP motivated thing against the govt,moreover there is a clear doubts on CAG reports. Trusting him will be nothing but communal party
Those are criticizing are corrupt. Anna has proper idea what to do now and then. He is not like any politician to give false promises. Those who are fearing of Janlokpal because of doing corruption should be careful. Janlokpal must come.
To Anna - Sir, Give an answer to political parties by floating a political outfit which work in different style. Its not a sin to join politics and trying to change the present system. But of course its a sin for a person of your stature not to join politics thinking that, we cannot change the political system.
Yes. very right, you should ask good people to fight elections after launching a national party and fight the next elections 2014 at the centre, you cannot change the system by staying outside the system, you can only change the system by participating in it. Everytime you cannot ask the paople to come to streets, people will come once, twice or thrice but not all the time. So Annaji you should also understand the feelings of the common/ poor people of this country and immediately launch a political party at the centre if you are really thinking and wanting to see a corrupt-less India or a prosper India.
It is more than clear as christal that ANNA wants only the people of India governed by the people but not by the people elected criminals screened by political parties to get the licence by election for plundering and looting the whole India by peoples given privilege to not to question after looting and involved in any kind of corruption and political murder. That is the voice of the new generation of India, when this voice heared by the old monks now governing India, would be too late to repend for redemption which punishment will be so cruel by GOD; IF INDIA BELIEVES IN GOD AND GODESSES:
I am unable to understand the view point of Shri Anna that good people in Parties to be elected for Assembly or Parliament by Voters.Maximum persons belonged to these Parties are belonged to feudal or business classes. The poor people in these Parties are not having sufficient fund to spend in election.The Left parties are an excemption as they are giving patronage to persons to develop in Provincial and national level. But these Parties has no base in North India or Central India.I feel that the election scenoria in North India where richer classes plays to get maxium benifits during selection of Candidates.This should be changed as Shri Anna has to lead the progressive forces and should give their Candidates to contest in election as this should be good endeavour for democracy.
Annaji ought to form asap a brand new political party, with people untainted by corruption and graft, and fully committed to usher in a new era of prosperity and welfare and a new fair deal for India and all Indians. This is what India needs now, as all our existing political parties and their leaders have totally forfeited the trust and support of the people. It is a must also to ward off the multitudinous serious dangers our nation is facing at present from anti-Indian elements at home and abroad. Once this game-changer is in place, the rest will follow naturally and automatically. So, this is exactly what Annaji ought to do now! This is also what it takes to make our India the richest, most powerful and best welfare state in the world.
All people are honest and untainted till they get a chance to make money , so technically they are clean and honest.Where from Anna will get so many clean people is any body's guess, but, once in , they too will be like all politicians like those present in all political parties be that Congress or BJP , BSP or LJP.The best way is not to join the crowd, but, have your ideas implemented,like having a strong Lok Pal Bill, reforms in electoral management, state funding of elections, reduce the number of political parties and other changes like a simple majority is not enough for election, but a minimum % of votes be garnered to win an election and right to recall if possible!!
It was never in doubt as to the political ambitions and intentions of Anna Hazare and his Team of frustrated people. Now he is showing his true colours like Ram Dev.If he feels that BJP is lesser evil, then he should look around in Gujarat , Karnataka and Punjab.People must look into and through the intentions of Anna then just take hime at face value.
Annaji, we, the people of India, are with you and your selfless team. May God bless you, may He keeps you in ever good health and spirit.
Anna has no idea what the hell to do NOWWW, so just for the sake of being in limelight he's flooding such statements.