Country faces threat from reservation system: Anna Hazare

Social activist Anna Hazare yesterday said the reservation system poses a threat to the country “as political parties have got involved in it”.

“The country faces a threat from the reservation system. Reservation was needed only for some time after Independence but now political parties have got involved in it,” the Gandhian activist told reporters in Sikar.

Mr Hazare also advocated removal of poll symbols from ballot papers and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) as part poll reforms. Anna said that there is dire need to think and restructure the reservation system, which has become a political tool to woo the voters.

Accusing both Congress and BJP of being involved in corruption, he said, “These parties can not eradicate corruption. The key for this is with voters.”

BJP raised the issue of corruption before the Lok Sabha polls, but did not take initiatives to curb it after coming to power, he said, stressing that “50 per cent of corruption could be controlled by Lokpal Bill only”. Anna started a movement from the Sikar district of Rajasthan against the Election Commission (EC) and demanded to remove poll symbol from the ballot papers and EVMs. “I demand the EC to remove poll symbols from ballot papers and EVMs. It’s not a constitutional arrangement. This time we are waging a war against Election Commission of India. I am starting this issue from Sikar and will hold countrywide movement and rallies until my demands are met,” Anna said.

Anna appealed the people of Bihar to vote and elect educated leaders who hold good character. He said that constitution has no mention of electing the leaders on the basis of their party or party symbols. The social activist also targeted the political parties over the beef issue and asked why it was being raked up now. “Why did they not see beef in the last 68 years? This all is just politics,” he said.