New Delhi:
Anna Hazare, who shook the UPA government three years ago with his anti-corruption crusade, was back in the national capital on Monday on a two-day dharna in which Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will join him today to protest against Modi government’s land ordinance, accusing it of being pro-corporate.
A “jail-bharo (fill the jails)” movement will be launched from the Ramlila Ground here in three to four months at the end of a “padyatra” across the country, the 77-year-old Gandhian announced at Jantar Mantar, the reserved spot for agitations.
Attacking the land ordinance, Hazare said BJP had promised “acche din” (good days) to the people during the elections but good days had come only to corporates.
“This is land-grab. Britishers used to do it. Today’s government is worse than the British regime. Even Britishers did not met out so much injustice to farmers,” he said.
In December last year, the government had promulgated an ordinance making significant changes in the Land Acquisition Act including removal of consent clause for acquiring land for five areas of industrial corridors, PPP projects, rural infrastructure, affordable housing and defence use.
Kejriwal, who had broken up with Hazare and formed his AAP, met the Gandhian after almost a gap two years and told him about his wish to participate in the dharna, probably a symbolic protest tomorrow afternoon.
While Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia parried questions whether Kejriwal would share the stage, Hazare had earlier said that AAP leaders were welcome to sit with the protesters.
