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Hazare asks Govt to respect people’s sentiments on FDI
Veteran social activist Anna Hazare on Wednesday advised the UPA Government not to go ahead with its decision allowing 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail trade, against the wishes of the people.
Talking to media in his home village of Ralegan Siddhi, Hazare said: “Parliament has not been functioning for the last seven days owing to the FDI issue. Many states have opposed the FDI move. There is also resistance to the move even among the people “
“We are a democracy. We should take cognizance of the views of the people. The Government should not stretch the issue. If the people are saying they are opposed to the move, why is the Government is trying it force it on them?,” Hazare asked.
Replying to a question, Hazare said he did not think that the Government had purposely broached FDI issue to divert the attention of people from other important issue. “I do not think the Government is purposely doing it. The Government may not have realised it (the impact of its DFI decision),” he said.
He said that he was all for a compressive debate in Parliament on the merits and demerits of the FDI move. “It is then the people will know as to what truth is. If there is such a debate in Parliament, one can expect a solution to the logjam on the FDI issue,” he said.
Asked to comment on the stalling of the proceedings in Parliament on the FDI issue, he said:”We have accepted democracy.We have faith in Parliament. These (MPs) are our own people. They have not come from Pakistan. We have sent to them Parliament.”
“What can we do just because these people fall short when it comes to understanding the issues?” he added.
Maintaining that he did not like to be compared with Mahatma Gandhi, Hazare said: “I have been telling people not to compare me with Gandhi. As much I look up to Gandhi, I look up to Chhatrapati Shivaji as well. Gandhi used to say that even using harsh words is violence. I have been using harsh words for the last several years, in the interest of society and nation.”
He added, “Using harsh words is violence I accept it. … That’s why I have been telling people not to compare me with Gandhi. I do not deserve to be compared with Gandhi.”
