Agencies/Ralegan-Siddhi, Maharashtra
Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare yesterday began an indefinite vow of silence at his village in Maharashtra, an aide said. Hazare, 74, had gone on a 13-day public hunger strike in New Delhi on August 16, sparking mass protests, with tens of thousands joining one of the country’s biggest anti-government demonstrations in recent years. Hazare would observe a “maun vrat” or vow of silence for the peace of his soul in his native Ralegaon Siddhi village, his aide Shyam Asava said. “Anna has been continuously interacting with people after ending his fast in August and this has put a lot of strain on his health,” Asava said. “He needs some respite and will be on maun vrat for an indefinite period,” Asava added. Hazare would engage in his regular activities and communicate in writing if required, the aide said. He would not travel during the period. Following the huge response to his fast and anti-corruption campaign, Hazare has been pursued by television journalists in his village. The aide said Hazare, a follower of Mahatma Gandhi, periodically went on fasts and vows of silence for spiritual reasons. He has already postponed his five-state tour until after the winter session of parliament.Hazare had announced a visit to Pakistan last month. It is not known if and when the trip would take place. Ahead of the ‘maun vrat’ Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had written to him promising to take steps to enact a strong anti-corruption law and bring about electoral reforms.Hazare, however, continues to face the heat of Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh, who has accused him of collusion with the Hindu rightwing Rashtrya Swayamsevak Sangh. Hazare denied the charge.And for the first time, Hazare has publicly criticised two of his closest aides - Prashant Bhushan and Arvind Kejriwal.He pulled up Supreme Court lawyer Bhushan for his comments on Jammu and Kashmir that led to a violent attack on Bhushan in New Delhi on October 12.The activist has also said it was wrong on the part of Kejriwal to say that Hazare was above parliament.Amid all this, his former aide Swami Agnivesh has begun to criticise the social activist publicly.