Anna Haajare Suport Raj Thakhre

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/the-anna-effect/834021/
http://newshopper.sulekha.com/hazare-backs-raj-thackeray-s-tirade-against-non-marathis_news_1024638.htm
Hazare backs Raj Thackeray's tirade against Non-Marathis

posted 2 yrs ago - by sulekha news | 1890 Views | View Source: Indo Asian News Service

Varanasi, Jan 18 (IANS) Veteran social activist Anna Hazare backs Maharashtra Navnirmaan Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray's campaign against non-Marathi 'Dadagiri' (dominance) in Maharashtra, but opposes the violent means being used to achieve the purpose.

The 71-year-old social activist expressed support for MNS's programme, while talking to journalists Saturday night after addressing students of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) on 'Gram Swaraj and Experience in Ralegan', his native village in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra which he transformed into a model village through persistent efforts.

'Some ideas of Raj Thackeray were correct, but damaging public and national property was not right,' Hazare said.

When asked which ideas of the MNS chief were correct, Hazare noted people from many states live in Maharashtra, but 'outsiders trying to prove their dominance in the state was not at all acceptable'.

In a reference to North India-based political parties like Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal trying to show their strength in Maharashtra by holding rallies and other programmes in the state, he said such activities were not acceptable.

'They have ample space in their states to hold such programmes,' he noted.

When asked to comment on attacks by MNS activists on students from Bihar who had gone to Mumbai to appear in railway recruitment exams, Hazare said: 'I do not support everything Raj Thackeray does. If violent means are adopted by MNS, it will not be in interest of a united India.'

'We need to work for unity of the country and not for its disintegration through violence against innocents,' he added.

Seema Chishti Tags : seema chishti, columnist, indian express, indian express oped, The Anna effect Posted: Fri Aug 19 2011, 01:20 hrs

The Anna effect

Several Urdu papers have displayed circumspection and wariness about Anna Hazare’s movement, and some have sharply articulated their unease.
Mumbai, Kanpur, Bareilly, Lucknow and Delhi-based Inquilab has lashed out at Anna’s cheerleaders. Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi has been quoted on the front page: “Anna Hazare camera ke peecche bhaag rahe hain (Anna Hazare is chasing cameras). The real purpose of the movement is to defeat the government.” The paper has conducted interviews with some prominent Muslims, who conclude Anna’s movement is “backed by communal elements and is an attempt to ruin the atmosphere in the country.” The interviewees say that “corruption will not be removed by these types of protests and demonstrations, but by generating an environment in the country against corruption.”
Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow and Dehradun-based Sahafat has written a tough editorial titled ‘The bubble of Anna Hazare’s campaign’. It says Anna Hazare violates the Gandhian spirit and principles. The paper says that “when the MNS’s Raj Thackeray was busy sending non-Maharashtrians out of the state, Hazare supported Thackeray and even issued a statement in his favour.” The paper harks back to the stand taken by some influential papers during the anti-Mandal riots in 1991, who were opposing reservation for the backward classes, and were “90 per cent of the 15 per cent of the population.” The paper alleges, “these are the same people who said no reservation, only merit then.” Hitting out further, Sahafat is of the view that “the RSS is backing this to distract from its purported links with terror being unearthed.” The editorial concludes that “some unelected people cannot be given preference over an elected Parliament.”