Hazare tours M'rashtra for awareness

Public awareness on corruption, a strong Lokpal and Lokayukta acts are the need of the hour, Anna Hazare said in Maharashtra on Saturday.

The anti-corruption crusader is currently touring Maharashtra to campaign for a strong Lokayukta Act in the state.

Talking to reporters here, Hazare put emphasis on bringing strong Lokpal and Lokayukta bills besides the right to reject a candidate.

“Our country, which has adopted democracy, has witnessed a sea change in the six decades after Independence. Now it is money for power and power for money,” Hazare said.

He lamented that Maharashtra, once a role model for other states, was now in a bad shape.

On Naxalism, Hazare said guns would not solve any problem.

He also alleged that government was not interested in resolving the issues through discussion. “We are always ready for discussion on issues like Lokpal Bill, Gram Sabha, etc, but the government has been adamant.”

The government seemed to be afraid of a “fakir” like him who had no wealth, no house of his own, Hazare said.