People's Parliament supreme, says Anna Hazare

Mumbai, Mar 12: Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare, who has announced a 'padyatra' against Land Acquisition Bill, on Thursday said if the Bill gets passed in Rajya Sabha, then people will have to show that 'jan sansad' (people's parliament) is supreme in the country.

"We will have to wage another freedom struggle on the issue," Hazare said, a day after indicating that he was ready for talks with the government, also asking parties to unitedly oppose the "anti-farmer" Bill in Rajya Sabha.

"Those inside (the House), who are opposing the Bill, should do so unitedly," he had earlier said at his native village Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district.

"The Bill has been passed in Lok Sabha. If it gets passed in Rajya Sabha, people will have to show that 'jan sansad' is supreme," he said. "

(Mahatma) Gandhiji used to say development should not be at the cost of exploiting nature and humanity," Hazare said in a statement issued today.

"Narendra Modi was born in (Mahatma Gandhi's) Gujarat and grew up there. From a tea-seller, he became the PM. One can't fathom why does he not understand what Gandhiji said," the 77-year-old social activist said.

"Gandhiji said: build smart, self-sufficient villages. This government says: build smart cities," he said.

"If smart villages are built, there won't be exploitation of nature and humanity," he said. There should be no land acquisition for industrial purpose without the consent of farmers, Hazare said.

PTI