War with Pakistan should be avoided; if it happens, I will join the battle: Anna Hazare
While Anna Hazare condemned the attack as shameful, he said that both the neighbours should live on friendly terms and if possible a war should be avoided as many soldiers are killed and there is lot of bloodshed.
Social reformer Anna Hazare traveled to Mumbai from his home town Ralegan Siddhi for a day. While he spoke on an array of subjects, his focus was mainly on the prevailing Indo-Pakistan situation since the Uri attack.
While he condemned the attack as shameful, he said that both the neighbours should live on friendly terms and if possible a war should be avoided as many soldiers are killed and there is lot of bloodshed. "But if Pakistan does not behave then something has to be done about it." When asked if a re-look at the 1960 Sindhu water sharing agreement would help, Anna said, "When we close someones nose then the person has to open their mouth. So yes that could be one solution to this pakistan problem." Anna, at the age of 79, however is willing to still go to the border and fight against Pakistan if there is a war.
On the issue of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena threatening Pakistani artists and asking them to leave the country Anna said, "There is a difference between war and art. We should keep them separate. Art inspires people. If art is used in a wrong way then that is not acceptable."
Speaking about Arvind Kejrival and the Aam Aadmi Party which latley had to suspend a few party members, Anna said, "I saw Arvind's sacrifices and his work (during the ramleela anshan) and I thought here is one person who will work for the country. But after Lokpal I don't know what happened to him. But now I feel that power has gone to his head. And look how he now had to remove so many of his own ministers. But this is my loss and am unhappy. If that 2011 team of ours had stayed, then this country would have been different."
However, he said that whatever is done is done and he was still willing to work to change the country whether anyone came with him or not.
On the number of malnutrition deaths in tribal areas of Maharashtra, Anna said, "After years of independence if children, the future of this country, are still dying then it's shameful".