Anna Hazare wary of political parties hijacking protest

Social activist Anna Hazare on Tuesday said he can allow Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to come on stage only if other Chief Ministers also approach him, but anybody could join the mass protest.

"The members of political parties are from this country and people running this government are also from this country. The farmers who are being unjustly treated are also from the same country. And, if the famers are being unjustly treated, what is the harm in everybody coming together and protesting against it?" Hazare said at a rally here.

On Monday, Hazare launched a protest against the Land Acquisition Ordinance, demanding its withdrawal and urging the government to look out for ways to improve the condition of farmers.

The social activist had earlier lashed out at the BJP-led government for removing provisions which provided for taking the farmers' consent before acquiring their land.

Earlier in the day, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said the government was well within its rights to take the ordinance route, amidst an uproar in the Rajya Sabha over the Land Acquisition Bill.

Congress leader Anand Sharma, however, shot back saying Jaitley expected the Parliament to rubber stamp the Ordinances.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislators also staged a protest against the Land Acquisition Bill outside the Parliament.