ANNA HAZARE WITHDRAWS HUNGER STRIKE
PUNE: Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare on Friday put on hold his proposed indefinite fast, a day before it was to begin to press demands for implementation of the Swaminathan commission recommendations regarding agriculture pricing, statutory status and autonomy for central agriculture price commission.
Hazare announced about not going ahead with proposed strike on Saturday after meeting former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Choudhary at his native place Ralegan Siddhi where both assured the crusader that a committe will look into his demands.
Both Fadnavis and Choudhary held marathon discussion with Hazare and assured him that a high power committee will decide on demands the crusader has put forward.“today, the agriculture minister handed over letter about the committee, which will take a call on 15 demands that I have put. In the light of the letter, I have decided to put on hold my proposed strike. I am confident, once the government take call on these demands, it will positively impact lives of farmers,” said Hazare.
Earlier in the day, Choudhary handed him letter assuring formation of a committee and likely members of it. “After discussing it with Anna, we requested the Centre to announce a high power committee. As a result of this, the Union minister of state for agriculture Kailash Choudhary, who handed Anna a letter and announced that a panel under the chairmanship of agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar with other members from NITI Aayog and names recommended by Anna has will be formed,” said Fadnavis. According to Fadnavis, the panel will act within six months on Hazare’s demands.