Anna Hazare to sit for a hunger strike if Centre fails to fulfil demands

Pune: Social activist Anna Hazare wrote to Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Monday, "resumption of a hunger strike" against the Centre's "failure" to fulfil his demands including the implementation of the recommendations made by MS Swaminathan Commission. Hazare's other demand include granting autonomy to the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).

The anti-graft activist had sat on a fast in his Ralegaon Siddhi village in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra in February 2019. He had called off the fast on February 5, 2019, after receiving a written assurance from then Union Agriculture Minister Radhe Mohan Singh, that the centre would form a high-powered committee to discuss the suggestions made by the Swaminathan Commission and other agriculture-related demands.

The octogenarian said the Centre would be soon apprised of the date and venue of the fast. Hazare had observed another fast on December 8 in support of the Bharat Bandh called by the farmers' organisations demanding a repeal of the Centre's three agricultural laws.

Hazare said that the protest should spread across the entire country so that the central government comes under pressure and acts in favour of the farmers. He, through a recorded message, appreciated the protest staged by the farmers at the Delhi border, saying that no form of violence has taken place in the last ten days of protest.

Calling it the 'right time' for the farmers to fight for their issues, Hazare said that he has always backed the causes of the farmers and will continue to do so in the future too.

Speaking further on the government's role, he said that the government only gave assurance but it never fulfilled the demands.

He had warned of an agitation if the government fails to grant autonomy to the CACP and implement recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission.

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