After praising Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his work in Gujarat, social activist Anna Hazare on Thursday did a u-turn saying he was dismayed at the level of corruption in the state.
Hazare, who had faced criticism for praising Modi, said that corruption had not even spared the state of Mahatma Gandhi.
The anti-corruption crusader also said that liquor flowed more freely than milk in Gandhi's Gujarat where a prohibition law is in force.
"After coming here I have realised that there are so many corruption cases here. So much corruption in Gandhiji's state," he said and urged Modi to quickly appoint a Lokayukta in Gujarat.
"I would like to make two appeals to Narendra Modi. First, appoint a Lokayukta in the state, and second, bring in legislation that would empower gram sabhas in taking decisions related to the village, especially those dealing with the village land," Hazare said.
Hazare, a member of the Lokpal Bill drafting team, made these remarks during a public hearing by various civil society groups held at Gujarat Vidyapeeth in Ahmedabad.
Hazare had earlier said that state chief ministers must learn from the work done by the chief minister of Gujarat and Bihar. His praise for Modi had fuelled a controversy and even his followers criticised his statement.
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'Enemy within the state bigger threat to nation than Pak'
Hazare said that after his drive to weed out corruption his next assignment would be against land acquisition. He said he wanted it to start from Gujarat.
Hazare said that the country may face a threat from Pakistan, but it faces a more grievous threat from enemies within the country.
The anti-corruption crusader warned the union government that he would repeat the Delhi protest of April 5 if it tried to delay the drafting of the Lokpal Bill.
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'Gujarat is a land of scams'
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is making use of American media agencies to paint a false picture of what was exactly happening in Gujarat, he said. "Gujarat is not vibrant as presented by Modi. Gujarat is a land of scams.
Gandhi's Gujarat is now Ghotale ka Gujarat' (state of scams)," Agnivesh said. Arvind Kejriwal said that if farmer's land was forcefully acquired by government for industrialists it could lead to a civil war.
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