Veteran social activist Anna Hazare on Thursday staged a two-hour silent protest in Maharashtra’s Ahilyanagar district to express solidarity with students protesting in Delhi over alleged examination irregularities.
Hazare observed the maun andolan at the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Ahilyanagar before returning to his native village of Ralegan Siddhi in the same district.
The demonstration comes amid continuing protests in the national capital, where students and members of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) have been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination paper leaks and irregularities.
Hazare observes two-hour silent protest
According to Hazare’s aide, Datta Awari, the social activist began his silent protest at 11 am and concluded it at 1 pm.
“Anna began his protest at 11 am and ended it at 1 pm,” Awari told PTI.
The symbolic protest was held peacefully at the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Ahilyanagar, after which Hazare left for Ralegan Siddhi.
Letter to PM urges dialogue with protesters
A day before the protest, Hazare wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing concern over reports of violence and police action during the ongoing demonstrations.
In the letter, Hazare said, “the news of…violence and police action…is extremely painful.”
He urged the government to view the protesters’ grievances as a reflection of public concern rather than treating them solely as a law and order issue.
According to Hazare, the resentment among the demonstrators should be seen “not as a law and order problem, but as the agony and expectations of society.”
Hazare calls for confidence-building measures
The veteran activist appealed to the Centre to engage constructively with the protesters and resolve the issue through dialogue.
He requested the government to “listen to (the protesters) patiently, create an atmosphere of trust, and find solutions through positive dialogue.”
Hazare said meaningful engagement between the government and protesters would help address concerns related to alleged examination irregularities.
Suggests resignation of Education Minister
In his letter, Hazare also referred to the demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, stating that such a step would strengthen accountability rather than weaken the government.
“If Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is asked to resign, it will not cause the government to fall; rather, it will…make its functioning more accountable and effective,” he wrote.
The Union government has not responded to Hazare’s remarks in the statement provided by PTI.
Student protest enters second month
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has been staging protests since June 20, demanding the resignation of the Union Education Minister over alleged examination irregularities.
The agitation gained momentum on July 20, when thousands of students and supporters participated in the “Chalo Sansad” march in Delhi, renewing calls for accountability and reforms in the examination system.
The protests have continued amid a political confrontation between the Opposition and the Centre over the handling of alleged paper leaks and examination-related issues, with both sides maintaining their respective positions on the matter.
(With inputs from PTI)
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