ASSEMBLY POLL '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS '98
ARCHIVES

Anna Hazare to throw light on Rane's deals

Social reformist Anna Hazare has promised to bring to light certain discrepancies committed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Narayan Rane in the next two months.

Hazare, speaking at a press conference in Ralegansiddhi, said that many politicians in Maharashtra were shady. Within two months he would launch a state-wide agitation against such officials and ministers after providing evidence of their discrepancies.

The situation in the state will not change even though there has been a change of guard, he said adding that its economic condition is very bad.

Hazare had confidence in Rane's talents as an administrator, but said a remote control would not allow him to function properly. The ministry should work as trustees, not emperors, he added.

Expressing doubts about the expenditures incurred by the government, he said the authorities should publicise on the Internet how money is being spent on developmental work.

Hazare criticised the globalisation policy adopted by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress, saying it needed to be reconsidered.

He said Congress president Sonia Gandhi has assured him that those with corrupt and criminal background would not be given tickets during the forthcoming election. The BJP should also declare their stand on this issue, he added.

Commenting on the national irrigation scheme, Hazare said he has informed the Central government about the 'misappropriation' of funds from it. He would be meeting Union Rural Development Secretary Sanjeev Reddy and representatives of various states on March 10, wherein the matter would be taken up.

He alleged that the delay in scheme's implementation was due to the state machinery and not because of non-governmental organisations.

Hazare also stated that he was not related to any particular political party.

He said he would meet Akhil Bhartiya Sena president Arun Gawli in the first week of April.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report