Anna unmoved by CM8217;s system-talk

PUNE, Aug 2: Agitating anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare has written to Chief Minister Narayan Rane, responding to the latter's request to ...

PUNE, Aug 2: Agitating anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare has written to Chief Minister Narayan Rane, responding to the latter8217;s request to understand the limitations of the system and not to resort to self-penance.

Sources at Hazare8217;s native Ralegan Sidhhi village, about 85 km from Pune in neighbouring Ahmednagar district, confirmed that he had written to the Chief Minister, but refused to divulge the details. 8220;Anna will speak after breaking his silence on August 9,8221; sources said.

Threatening another indefinite fast from August 9, the Quit India anniversary, a disgusted Hazare has resorted to a maun vrat since Sunday. He has reportedly confined himself to his Yadavbaba temple room residence, but outside there is a continous stream of people from all over the State.

Hazare has been criticising the saffron alliance government for the delay in taking action against those behind the siphoning of Rs 32.66 crore meant for the excessive rain-hit areas in the State.

Meanwhile, Rane has claimed, in a three-page letter to Hazare, that the Sena-BJP government cared for the citizens8217; right to information which Hazare has been pressing for. Rane pointed out that the State Government has already initiated the citizens8217; charters at the municipal corporations, councils, grampanchayats, panchayat samitis and the zilla parishads levels. The State was waiting for enactment of a Bill on Right to Information, he said.

Rane8217;s letter, dated July 31, was taken to Hazare by two of the former8217;s non-Shiv Sainik emissaries late Sunday evening. Referring to a hand-written communique from the social worker on July 14, Rane maintained that he had not interfered with the Anti-Corruption Bureau inquiry currently on against former social welfare minister Baban Gholap.

8220;Taking unilateral decisions is not possible while heading a State Government,8221; Rane writes, admitting that the process of justice get delayed while following the doctrine of natural justice.

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Those guilty of misappropriating Rs 32.66 crore irrigation funds and of corruption in the Nira canal had already been shifted to non-executive posts on the basis of inquiries conducted by the Pune divisional commissioner, Rane said, adding that the Government has also appointed a special committee to go into the technical details.

The Government was also inquiring into alleged malpractices in the soil conservation department, Rane added.