Women's rights activist Trupti Desai on Monday threatened to begin an agitation if the Central and state governments did not agree to the demands of Gandhian activist Anna Hazare, who has been on a fast since January 30.
Desai, who met Hazare at his village of Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra on Monday, set a deadline of February 8 for the BJP-led governments at the Centre and the state to meet Hazare's demands, failing which activists of her Bhumata Brigade would hit the streets. Hazare is fasting to demand creation of posts of Lokpal in the Centre and Lokayuktas in the states and resolution of farmers' issues.
On Monday, Union Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre and Maharashtra Water Conservation Minister Girish Mahajan met Hazare, who had lost over 4kg since he began his fast. Bhamre expressed confidence that Hazare would end his fast on Tuesday, claiming the Narendra Modi government had given a “written assurance” on his demands.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was instrumental in persuading Hazare to end his fast in March last year, also hoped the 81-year-old Gandhian would end his fast soon. Fadnavis declared the state government had formed a committee for creating a post of Lokayukta. Despite the assurances from the Central and state governments, Hazare declared he would continue his fast.
Meanwhile, political sparring over Hazare's fast has increased after he alleged on Monday the BJP had used his agitation to come to power in 2014. Both the Shiv Sena, an ally of the BJP, and Raj Thackeray's MNS have pledged support to Hazare. In a veiled barb at the two Maratha parties, Fadnavis claimed opposition parties were now trying to use Hazare.
