Pune:
Ralegan Siddhi has been teeming with people keen to meet anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare the last couple of days. Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi, the core members of Hazare's team in his recent agitation in Delhi for the Jan Lokpal bill, were also in town.
Nationwide tourThere are reports that Mr Kejriwal and Ms Bedi have decided that the next step would be to persuade MPs who are not in favour of the Jan Lokpal bill to come over to their side. Mr Hazare's followers and people who are part of his campaign revealed that the activist's team had decided on a nationwide tour to be undertaken by him in October and November to educate people and create awareness on the Jan Lokpal bill.
Poll reform demandMr Hazare's followers also said that the right to reject a candidate should be introduced in elections for MPs. They said the Election Commission should introduce this for democracy to be effective. Mr Hazare was constantly meeting visitors the past few days.
Yesterday he met people who had come all the way from Rajasthan and Haryana. While interacting with them, Mr Hazare said: "I am not God. My aim is to get good people from all parties to create a nation which is cleansed of corruption." Leaders from the ruling NCP and Congress parties were also queuing up to meet Mr Hazare.
State Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat met Mr Hazare on Sunday and requested him not to think of fasting again for the sake of his health. Bavan Rao Pajpute from Ahmednagar also visited Mr Hazare yesterday and requested the same. "We have also asked Mr Hazare to accept the Z security given by the state government," he said.