PUNE, Sept 11: Social worker Anna Hazare, who was sentenced to three months simple imprisonment for defamation of Social Welfare Minister Babanrao Gholap, today succumbed to pressure from followers and decided to file an appeal against the ruling of the metropolitan magistrate in Mumbai.Hazare changed his mind after deliberations with noted Gandhian Balasaheb Bharde and industrialist Abhay Firodia on Thursday night. Sources close to Hazare said Bharde and Firodia convinced him that his decision had sent wrong signals to the people, which would adversely affect his crusade against corruption.
Hazare said he would take a final decision after consulting his lawyer. Hazare's lawyer P. Janardan called on him at the Yerawada jail and Hazare signed a vakalatnama to file the appeal in Mumbai on Saturday. The Bharatiya Kranti Sena would launch a jail-bharo at Jedhe chowk at 11 a.m. on September 15.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Printer-friendly page