PUNE, AUG 9: Social reformer Anna Hazare today alleged that within a week of being sentenced to three months' simple imprisonment in a defamation case by Judge K H Holambe-Patil, the Maharashtra government alloted a flat in the name of the the judge's mother.Breaking his eight-day maun vrat before journalists at Ralegaon-Siddhi today, Hazare said: ``I am not making any demand for inquiry in the matter, but would search for answers at the feet of Sant Dynaneshwar. I will now do some self-introspection at Alandi with an eleven-day fast to get answers to questions lingering inside me.''
Hazare questioned the sequence of events leading to the allotment of the flat by the government. He was sentenced to three months' simple imprisonment on September 9, 1998, in a defamation suit filed by former Social Welfare Minister Babanrao Gholap and, according to him, a week later on September 16, the government alloted a flat ``without any demand'' by the recipient.
But for all that, Hazare said he was not sureif possession had been taken of the flat except to say that the judge had twice sought extension of the time for taking possession.
The fast, Hazare said, is bound to raise questions about timing as it is on the eve of another round of elections. ``But I am not bothered as I am not interested in politics though some people would try to take advantage out of this like in the previous one when the alliance tried to encash in on the agitation against Congress government,'' he said.
Hazare said he would ponder over during his fast and could even appeal to the voters if he found certain people worthy of being sent to the legislature. ``Some good people have to enter politics,'' he said.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.