Threats are routine; work must continue: Anna Hazare

Social activist Anna Hazare has called upon his supporters to ignore the threat to his life and to continue working, Hazare's personal secretary Datta Awari tells Rediff.com.

A Bhrashtachar Virodhi Jan Andolan member from Mumbai, Ashok Gautam, received a threat against Hazare’s life from a Canadian citizen Gagan Vidhu on Tuesday on phone.

“Dhamkya yet rahtat; kaam chalu thevaycha. Threats are routine; work must go on,” Awari told Rediff.com quoting Hazare.

Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare is planning to march against the Centre’s Land Acquisition Bill in the coming days. The final decision to chalk out the 11,000 km planned march will be taken in a meeting on March 9.

The threat was made on Tuesday afternoon, Awari said.

Awari, who spoke with the veteran Gandhian said that Hazare will continue with his schedule and such threats have no impact on Hazare.

“He has written to the new Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena government as well as the previous government that his Z category security was not needed,” Awari said.

At present, Hazare gets Z class security that includes two guards from the local police station, four commandos from the Special Protection Unit and one escort van with four policemen, according to Jambhale.

Sharad Ramdev Jambhale, police inspector, Parner Police Station, under whose jurisdiction Ralegaon Siddhi falls, told Rediff.com that no extra security has been provided or asked for after the latest threat to Hazare’s life.

Jambhale said that Ashok Gauam has lodged a police complaint at Kalyan's Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Polcie Station.

However, Awari said that after the threat phone call, visitors meeting Hazare are frisked by the cops and have to go through metal detectors outside the temple in Ralegan Siddhi where Hazare stays.