Hazare on firm ground on eve of next crusade

“Thackeray must be daydreaming,” Hazare said when media persons sought his version prior to a function at the Firodia Hostel here today. “The amount (Rs 22 crore) seems to be his discovery. Let him explain how he arrived at this figure. The government had granted an annual grant of Rs 65 lakh last year and we have accounted for every paise,” he asserted.

He sought to remind Thackeray that he had already filed the audited income and expenditure statement of the Trust for the year 1995-96, after Sutar had levelled allegations. The statement was even acknowledged by Chief Minister Manohar Joshi in his letter dated October 30, 1996, accompanied by an assurance to the effect that the Trust would be able to continue the implementation of the model village scheme without any hindrances.

Hazare told mediapersons that he had sent the latest audited statement of the Trust’s accounts to the Chief Ministers office last week, with a letter requesting him to conduct a thorough inquiry into its affairs. “The Chief Minister was free to choose between an investigation by official agencies or a probe under the Commission of Inquiries Act,” he said.

Hazare challenged the government to hold an inquiry and make the findings public. “Why beat round the bush. Let people know the true facts,” Hazare said.