Govt, AMC hampered Anna’s visit to city

Organisers were instructed to get Anna Hazare to talk about Centre’s corruption than focus on issues related to the state, reveal activists

It was not easy bringing Anna Hazare to Ahmedabad. Especially when you consider that the state government and the municipal corporation withheld permission at various stages for the activist’s public meeting.

Mansukh Sawani of Saurashtra Jal Kranti Trust, who is on good terms with Chief Minister Narendra Modi, had organised a programme in Surat on May 9. “The state government wanted him to take Anna to progressive villages of Gujarat,” informs Gautam Thaker, secretary of People’s Union Civil’s Liberties (Gujarat chapter).

When four activists told Anna that Sawani had taken government contracts to build dams, his credibility was affected. “Anna told Sawani he will get Chunibhai Vaidya and Mallika Sarabhai to show him the true picture,” Thaker said.

Allegedly irked by this, the government warned organisers against giving publicity to Anna. “They were instructed to get Anna to talk more about Centre’s corruption than focus on state issues,” he revealed.

The organisers even had to get their own security cover. “This even though intelligence bureau had informed city police that a huge row would take place in the evening function.”

Organiser Bharatsinh Jhala had a tough time getting permission to organise the event at Sardarbaug. Says Jhala, “I applied for permission from AMC’s Parks and Garden department on May 16 (invoice no: 418) and was asked to meet Director V K Padia. I did not receive any reply till May 25. Then, I was told to speak to DyMC S K Langha. Even he was unavailable!”

Organisers approached former councillor Ratna Vora but her attempts failed, too.

Says Jhala, “We sent SMSes, fax and mails. When we decided to go ahead with the event, I was warned that action would be taken against me. Since our May 20 petition to the police was approved the next day, we decided to go ahead with the meet.”

Jhala added, “Jamiat-Ulema-i-Hind organised an event at the garden on April 17. Then why was permission denied to us?”

Meanwhile, DyMC Langha denied anyone had approached him for permission. He adds, “Organisers should have contacted Padia.” V K Padia was unavailable for comments.