Social activist Anna Hazare on Thursday staged a two-hour-long silent protest in Maharashtra’s Ahilyanagar in support of student protests in New Delhi, almost a day after writing to Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, urging the Union Government to engage with protesting students and address their concerns through dialogue.

Hazare began his Maun Andolan (silent protest) at the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Ahilyanagar at 11 am and brought it to a halt at around 1 pm, his aide Datta Awari confirmed. After the protest, the veteran activist left for his native village, Ralegan Siddhi, located in the same district.

Hazare urges PM Modi to initiate dialogue

The protest came a day after Hazare penned down a letter to PM Modi, urging the Centre to patiently pay heed to the grievances of students protesting against alleged irregularities in competitive examinations.

Without directly naming Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Hazare suggested that accepting ministerial accountability would not weaken the government but would instead send a strong message about responsibility within the administration.

Hazare wrote, “If accountability is fixed and the resignation of a minister is taken, the government will not lose power. Rather, it will send a clear message to other ministers that if they do not discharge the responsibilities of their departments properly, they too will have to relinquish their posts.”

He added that such action would make governance more accountable and effective.

Hazare condemns police action against demonstrators

Addressing the reported clashes between protestors and police during protests in Delhi, Hazare said reports of violence and police action were ‘extremely painful.’

Cops resorting to lathi charge during CJP protests in Delhi on July 20

He urged authorities not to view the protestors’ anger merely as a law-and-order issue, but as a reflection of public concerns and expectations. The social activist pleaded with the government to ‘listen to the protestors’ patiently, create an atmosphere of trust, and find solutions through positive dialogue. Speaking to media-persons on Thursday, Hazare said that as the Prime Minister is the country’s highest executive authority, it was important to place people’s concerns before him.

CJP-led stirs continue across the country

Hazare’s intervention came amid incessant protests led by the social media outfit Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over alleged irregularities in the NEET UG exam and other competitive tests.

The protestors have listed three demands, including the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, compensation of Rs 1 crore for kin of students who allegedly died by suicide and withdrawal of criminal actrion against peaceful demonstrators.