Fight corruption: Hazare

Hazare urged his supporters to ensure that their agitation against corruption is totally non-violent. 8220;You must ensure that national property is not damaged. The protest must be totally non-violent as non-violence is more powerful than violence,8221; he said.

Stating that spreading public awareness was the only way to fight corruption, Hazare exhorted his supporters to take out prabhat pheris and sing bhajans.

Hazare denied the reports that he had gone on an indefinite hunger strike. 8220;I have not even thought of doing it and none of my supporters should go on hunger strike,8221; he said.

8220;I refused to furnish a bond and decided to serve a jail term because my imprisonment would spread awareness against corruption. I believe that my imprisonment will motivate the public to launch a massive campaign in the larger interest of the society and the nation,8221; he added.

On being informed by some supporters that two chief ministers had shown interest in meeting him, Hazare said he would meet them them if the jail authorities permit. Asked whether he would meet the Maharashtra Chief Minister in case the latter shows interest in such a meeting, he said he had yet not thought about it.

Meanwhile, the Bhrashtachar Virodhi Jana Andolan, an organisation floated by Hazare to fight corruption at various levels, has directed all its members to organise jail bharo andolans in the state on October 2 to protest against corruption. The organisation has asked its members to organise hunger strikes and hold dharnas at district collectorates and near statues of Mahatma Gandhi.

A handout issued jointly by G P Pradhan, Baba Adhav, Pushpa Bhave, Ashok Sabban, Francis Debrito, K D Pawar and Karbhari Gavli urged the workers of the Bhrashtachar Virodhi Jana Andolan to start collecting people8217;s signatures on letters congratulating Hazare. It also urged the workers to hold prabhat pheris and corner meetings to spread public awareness. The leaders stressed that the agitations should be peaceful and that any confrontation with the police should be strictly avoided. The leaders also urged people not to believe in rumours. The Janandolan Samiti will provide information to the people regarding Hazare8217;s health and other developments during his jail term.

ENS adds from Ralegan Siddhi: The shocked citizens of Ralegan Siddhi, Hazare8217;s native village, today launched a chain hunger strike. They will continue it till the social worker is released from jail. The entire village observed a day-long-fast, a penance, today at Sant Yadavbaba Mandir.

Reacting to her son getting a prison term, Hazare8217;s mother Laxmibai said a mother in her was sad, but she was happy that her son had gone to jail for fighting against injustice.

An impromptu bandh was observed at the taluka headquarters of Parner and at many other places in the taluka.