Congress, BJP on same page in corruption: Hazare

Addressing media persons, Hazare said that based on the request from Madurai-based advocate Guruswami to protest for River Vaigai, he had visited Madurai and was shocked to learn that Vaigai is fast depleting.

He had visited Madurai to address the issue based on his own experience back in his native village. In his village, Ralegaon Siddhi people had earlier walked for six km to break mountains and worked as labourers. There was no production of vegetables in his village and the village struggled to produce 300 litres of milk.

A broad water conservation plan was designed, without the help of government, in which rain water was harvested, which had helped in recharge of water bodies. Now 40 to 50 trucks of vegetables are sent to neighbouring villages and towns on a daily basis and 7,000 litres of milk is being supplied from the village, he said.

“So to bring self-sustenance and to conserve all the water bodies I am on a national tour and is in a process to bring people to converge at New Delhi for the mega fast on March 23 next year,” said Hazare.

He also said that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh watered down the Lokpal Bill and Prime Minister Narendra Modi further diluted it and now it does not serve the purpose. One of his main demands of the March 23 fast is to strengthen the Lokpal Act, said Hazare.