New Delhi, August 27: Social activist Swami Agnivesh on Friday lashed out at Anna Hazare, alleging that the veteran social activist has a ‘dictatorial way of working’.
Agnivesh said: “Most decisions taken by Anna Hazare are his own. Once he makes up his mind and announces his decision, he expects everyone to adhere to them. If you do not accept his decision, you are told to stay out of the group.”
“Anna Hazare should have ended his fast yesterday itself. He should have ended it in the afternoon, around 2. It was a golden opportunity for him to break the fast since the decision would have reflected a victory for Anna Hazare, government as well as the people of India,” he added.
Agnivesh also expressed reservations on the means of protest adapted by the anti-graft activists, saying such steps posed a serious threat to parliamentary democracy in India.
“If you have a debate on such a crucial issue for merely a few hours, and call for the smooth passage of the Bill in Parliament, then what is the use of such a legislation which is formulated in such a rush. It would be considered a violation of democratic principles. This is why, now, the Bill should be debated in the Parliament in accordance with the existing Constitutional norms. I believe that discussions on the provisions of the legislation should take place for over a month,” he said.
Agnivesh also expressed his views on the similar agitation spearheaded by Baba Ramdev a few months ago, stressing the government had not done anything wrong in their dealing with yoga guru.
“What wrong has the government done to Baba Ramdev? The government fulfilled its promise. It engaged in dialogue with him. Senior leaders went to the Airport to receive him. Was it not a huge honour?” said Agnivesh.
Agnivesh, a social activist himself, had distanced himself from Hazare’s ‘core group’ spearheading the nationwide campaign against graft two days earlier, signalling a rift within the Hazare camp.
Many felt that Agnivesh took the decision due to a clash of opinions with Hazare’s key aides, Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi, who have been at the helm of the campaign since April 2011.
Agnivesh lamented his self-respect was deeply hurt by the repeated insults he had to bear during his association with the veteran activist.
“My self-respect was deeply hurt by some members of the Anna Hazare camp. I was insulted not once, not twice, but at least on eight occasions. However, I bore with these insults for quite some time. You know, a board depicting Anna Hazare’s thoughts has been placed in front of the stage where he is holding his fast. The last point written on that board is that a social activist must have the strength to bear insults. So, I kept testing my patience for as long as I could,” said Agnivesh.
–Agencies