National News
Anna Hazare hunger strike: protests in Ahmednagar for ‘cancelling’ train services
They accused the Central government of attempting to thwart the activist’s indefinite hunger strike in New Delhi.
Supporters of activist Anna Hazare on Friday burnt effigies representing the Narendra Modi government at Mr. Hazare’s village Ralegan Siddhi, in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district.
They accused the Central government of attempting to thwart the activist’s indefinite hunger strike in New Delhi.
Mr. Hazare’s followers also accused the BJP government of allegedly cancelling a number of train and bus services so as to prevent them from joining Mr. Hazare’s agitation in New Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan.
Mr. Hazare, who began his fast on Friday morning, alleged the same. He also remarked that the Modi government was allegedly attempting to “throttle democracy” and dubbed the government’s attitude as sly.
“Why has the government cancelled trains carrying protestors to Delhi? Do you [Modi government] want to push them to violence… a police force has been deployed for my protection whereas I have written many times in my letters that I don’t need any police protection,” Mr. Hazare said in New Delhi.
Mr. Hazare was given permission by the Delhi Police on Thursday to stage his demonstration.
The anti-graft crusader, who is agitating on the Ramlila grounds for the first time since his hunger strike in 2011, is protesting against the Modi government’s policies, including its failure to appoint the Lokpal and the neglect of farmers.
The octogenarian crusader is demanding that the Union government implement the Swaminathan Commission report for agrarian reforms and establish social security measures for farmers. He has also demanded setting up of an Agriculture Price Commission to ensure that farmers get fair prices for their produce along the lines of the Election Commission and the Niti Aayog.
