Hazare once contemplated committing suicide

New Delhi, Apr 24: Gandhian Anna Hazare, whose 98-hour long fast paved way for an anti-corruption legislation, had at one point of time contemplated committing suicide after he lost 19 colleagues in the 1965 Indo-Pak war.

"Having lost 19 of my dear colleagues in army during Indo-Pak war in 1965 on Khemaran front, I had even contemplated committing suicide. I was also injured on forehead by a pallet.

"But, I, incidentally came across a book written by Swami Vivekananda and this book changed my outlook towards life and proved to be a turning point," Hazare told Seedhi Baat on Aaj Tak.

After the Indo-China war in 1962, the Indian government had made an appeal to the youth to join the defence services for the country.

Hazare was one of those who responded and joined the army in 1963 and during the India-Pakistan war, he was posted in the Khemkaran sector, where Pakistani fighter jets bombarded Indian positions.

Hazare, himself had a narrow escape but he saw his colleagues die before him.

The 73-year-old anti-corruption crusader, who began his fast on April 5 called it off on April 9 after government notified a Joint Draft Committee.

Regarding the first meeting of the Joint Drafting Committee on the Lokpal, Hazare said that only the framework had been worked out.

He said he was satisfied by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi's letter to him and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh''s statement about tabling of the Lokpal Bill in the monsoon session of Parliament.

Asked about the authenticity of the controversial CD regarding Bhushans and the controversy surrounding them, Hazare said, "It is a matter to be examined in Delhi. I have no old relationship with Bhushans. We came together through the formation of committee. If anybody has a doubt about anything, they should ask Bhushans. I am not in a position to comment."

PTI