Funny but as expected: Shiv Sena on Hazare's fast U-turn

The Shiv Sena on Saturday slammed activist Anna Hazare for first announcing a hunger strike over farmers' issues and then calling it off within hours, saying this was "on expected lines".

Hazare on Friday announced an indefinite fast in support of farmers who are agitating on Delhi borders against the new farm laws, but later changed the decision after discussions with BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Chaudhary.

"The developments were funny but on expected lines," the editorial in the Sena mouthpiece `Saamana' said, adding it was unclear what was Hazare's stand on the controversial farm laws of the Union government.

"Protesting farmers are being targeted and the way they are being treated is shocking," it said.

During the UPA regime led by Manmohan Singh, Hazare went to Delhi twice and staged massive agitations and the BJP had supported those agitations, the Sena said. "But in the last few years, he has not taken a stand on demonetization, lockdown," it said.

The party also alleged that the Union government is doing everything to crush the farmers' agitation, and `lookout notices' have been issued against their leaders at airports as if they were international fugitives.

When asked by reporters about the Saamana editorial, Hazare said, that society and the country's interest mattered to him and not the party in power. "When I see anything wrong happening, something which is against the country and society, I take a stand. I have protested against the land acquisition bill during the Narendra Modi government's tenure," he said.