Anna Hazare firm on agitation despite parleys with CM Fadnavis

Mumbai: Despite talks with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on the phone and meeting with medical education minister Girish Mahajan, social activist Anna Hazare is firm on conducting an agitation for the setting up of a Lokpal and over the farmers’ issues from March 23 in New Delhi. 

Even though the have not ended fruitfully, Mr Mahajan told to The Asian Age that, “The government is positive about Mr Hazare’s demands and is hopeful that the issue will be sort out.” CM Fadnavis has received instructions from the Prime Minister’s Office and dialogue with Mr Hazare will continue, he said.. 

Working on direct instructions from the PMO, Mr Fadnavis sent Mr Mahajan to initiate talks with Mr Hazare in Ahmednagar. Besides the Lokpal, some of Mr Hazare’s other demands include, provision of Rs 5000 pension to farmers and minimum support price should be 1.5 times the production cost. Mr Mahajan had long discussions with Mr Hazare and the social activist told him that most of the demands were with the Union government, but no one had spoken with him. So Mr Fadnavis spoke to him about his demands, but nothing has been approved so far. Mr Mahajan told him that minimum support price issue has been already resolved by the centre. 

Though the chief minister, Mr Fadnavis is trying to convince Mr Hazare and has requested him to withdraw his agitation as his health is not good. But Mr Hazare is determined to go through with the stir as the Union government has not initiated any dialogue.