Hazare to hold talks with stakeholders ahead of Maharashtra tour

Pune, Apr 19 (ANI): Veteran social activist Anna Hazare on Thursday said he would hold talks with several stakeholders ahead of his scheduled state tour to awaken the people in India about the need to have a strong anti-graft law to combat the rampant corruption.

"Before starting our tour in Maharashtra, we are going have discussions with the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, Congress and nationalist party, BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and others, but we are going to listen to everyone," he said.

Hazare will undertake a month-long statewide tour from May 1 to create public awareness on the need for a strong Lokayukta legislation in Maharashtra.

When asked to comment on the recent land scam accusations against leaders of the Congress Party in Maharashtra, Hazare said that the guilty should be punished.

"The minister, who is guilty, and the investigation which also prove him guilty, then he should definitely be punished. While punishing the guilty, his party should not be considered as the ministers are the leaders of the society and people look up to them," he said.

Several top politicians of Congress and NCP, secured government land at cheap rates for trusts linked to them and their relatives, a report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General has said.

The report has indicted senior ministers, including former state chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh for allegedly allotting land at a meager price to the trusts run by them.

Meanwhile, commenting on the recent defeat of the Congress Party in the Delhi municipal polls, Hazare said that it was an indication of people's anger against the government.

"The minister, who is guilty, and the investigation which also prove him guilty, then he should definitely be punished. While punishing the guilty, his party should not be considered as the ministers are the leaders of the society and people look up to them," he said.

The BJP has swept the MCD polls, by winning 138 seats out of the 272 seats in the trifurcated body. Congress has bagged 78 seats, while BSP has got 15 seats and others including independent, have got 41 seats. (ANI)