Anna Hazare Backs Student Protest, to Join Demonstration in Ahilyanagar
Veteran activist urges dialogue over confrontation, says violence cannot resolve the ongoing crisis.
Veteran social activist Anna Hazare has announced that he will join the student protest underway in Maharashtra's Ahilyanagar, extending his support to the agitation and calling for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing dispute.
According to Hazare's close associates, he will soon travel to Ahilyanagar to meet the protesting students and discuss their concerns. Speaking to Aaj Tak, Hazare said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should prioritise dialogue over confrontation, stressing that violence is never the solution to any conflict.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a respected leader of the country. He should understand that violence is not the way forward. That is why I have written to him," Hazare said.
Referring to the police action against students during the recent protest march, Hazare said that none of the 22 movements he had led in his life had turned violent. He maintained that public movements should always remain peaceful and based on Gandhian principles.
On the demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Hazare said that in a democracy, the people are supreme and governments are accountable to the public. He added that those found responsible for any wrongdoing should face strict action.
Earlier, Hazare had written to Prime Minister Modi expressing concern over the handling of the student protests. In his letter, he argued that dialogue should take precedence over confrontation and said that holding ministers accountable would strengthen, rather than weaken, the government.
Hazare also expressed concern over reports that students have been protesting peacefully for nearly 25 days and urged the government not to treat the agitation merely as a law-and-order issue. He appealed for constructive engagement with the protesters and reiterated that democratic values and non-violence should guide the resolution of the crisis.
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