Ahmedabad: Social activist Swami Agnivesh
on Sunday said that Anna Hazare would likely withdraw his
statement praising Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, once
information collected from the state is submitted to him.
"On Hazare`s statement (about Modi) -- me and other
activists feel that he did not have a clear view about Gujarat
and his information was based on media reports," Agnivesh who
was here for a function told reporters.
He further said he had come to collect information and
to convince all the activists of the country that Hazare`s
statement was not because of some inclination, but was based
on information that Hazare had.
"Harare had told reporters yesterday that if he gets
full information, he would accept it as truth and based on
that he could even withdraw his statement praising Modi,"
Agnivesh said.
"Today, I have collected information which I will
share with Anna tomorrow. And I am of the opinion, that Anna
would withdraw his statement praising Modi," he said.
"It is a possibility that if he may not be satisfied
with information that I have collected. Then I would urge him
to come to Gujarat, and talk to people and social workers here
and get more information," he added.
Agnivesh also asked Modi to keep his promise and
announce new Lokayukta for Gujarat and get the new Lokayukta
bill passed by the state Assembly.
"Gujarat CM had promised that because of opposition
from others he was not able to appoint Lokayukta since last
6-7 years," Agnivesh said.
"Now he has to pass this test. A good draft of the
Lokayukta has been given to Modi which has been prepared by
Arvind Kejriwal, Santosh Hegde and Prashant Bhushan," he
added.
"Despite this if Modi does not announce a good Lokayukta
then his chest-beating claim of trying to make Gujarat
corruption-free state would fall flat," he said.
Agnivesh also suggested the name of retd Justice RM
Mehta of the Gujarat High Court as the Lokayukta in the state.
"Modi was thanking Hazare for praising him and his
state. If he (Modi) is really happy he should have the honesty
that before Hazare says, he should appoint a good judge as
Lokayukta and get the new Lokayukta Bill passed by the state
assembly," Agnivesh said.
With regard to the controversy over a CD allegedly
involving joint drafting panel co-chairman Shanti Bhushan,
Agnivesh said, "This is a sinister design to discredit and
malign some of the civil society members on the joint drafting
committee. It is an attempt to take away focus from the
movement where the nation has united in fight against
corruption."
PTI
