No go-ahead from authorities, ready for satyagrah in jail: Hazare

Social activist Anna Hazare on Friday said the 'satyagrah' or agitation he plans to launch on March 23 could be held in Delhi jail also since authorities had so far not given permission for the protest despite several requests in four months.

"I have written 16 letters to the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and the Commissioner of Delhi Police in four months. However, I have not got any response so far," Hazare said at a press conference here.

"If the government does not give me permission and give us the venue to protest, I am all set to do 'satyagrah' in jail. Jails are not new to me. Earlier in 2011, I did the same."

The government was "creating hurdle deliberately" but it would not stop the agitation from happening, Hazare said.

Hazare said he plans to hold the protest at the Ramlila Maidan, the place where he held a massive protest and a hunger strike against corruption in 2011.

The planned protest would be bigger than that of 2011, he said.

Asked why he did not get a response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Hazare said: "Either he does not have time as he has too much work and is too busy with foreign tours, or he has ego."

Hazare said the agrarian issues would be among the crucial issues to be taken up during his agitation this time.

He demanded an autonomous commission to fix prices of agricultural commodities to what he said was to save looting of farmers, apart from pension to farmers.

--IANS

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