Anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare on Friday announced his support to AAP nominee Medha Patkar and two Mahayuti candidates for their moral and social character and credibility of their parties and appealed to voters to defeat candidates playing the communal card. Besides Patkar, the septuagenarian social activist also extended support to Raju Shetty and Sadabhau Khot, leaders of Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatna (SSS), one of the constituents of BJP-led Mahayuti (grand alliance). While Patkar is contesting from Mumbai North-East seat, Shetty and Khot are in the fray from Hatkanangale and Madha seats, respectively, in western Maharashtra. These are among few candidates contesting on the behalf of parties having strong credibility, Hazare told PTI at his native Ralegan Siddhi village. Congress has fielded senior party leader Kallappana Awade from Hatkanangale seat and NCP its stalwart Vijaysinh Mohite Patil from Madha, currently represented by NCP chief Sharad Pawar who has decided against contesting polls. I am against the system of contesting polls on party basis because most of the political parties are functioning on black money of anti-social elements and cannot be trusted for wellbeing of the nation, he said. Hazare praised Patkar for working for the rights of tribals in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, and for uplift of slum dwellers. Medha successfully fought battles like Lavasa scam. She is also supporting the movement against corruption and for Jan Lokpal Bill since long, the Gandhian said. Hazare decided to back these candidates after holding day-long deliberations with his close aides Shyam Asawa, Vishwambher Chaudhari, Sanjay Pathade and others. He hailed Shetty and Khot for awakening farmers in the state. They have awakened farmers in the state and made them aware about the grave injustice done by government and sugar barons..Shetty and Khot have also solved some of the basic problems of farmers, he said. Hazare said though Patkar, Shetty and Khot are contesting on party affiliations, voters must compare their past work and their moral as well as social character. There are only a few such candidates in Maharashtra and in the country who have the background of social movements. Voters must think of this before exercising the franchise. People should vote considering their own experience about the candidates and not think of huge public meetings, speeches by leaders, flashy campaign, symbols, manifestos etc. he said. Hazare appealed to voters to defeat candidates having criminal antecedents and those using the card of caste and religion to attract voters.
Posted on: Sun, 13 Apr 2014 03:36:14 +0000
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