Anna Hazare is on a two-week visit to the US.
Anna Hazare is in the United States on a two-week visit. The 76-year-old anti-corruption crusader led the India Independence Day parade in New York on August 18.
Mr Hazare has a busy calendar for the next 10 days. He will be attending a lunch hosted by his supporters at the Capitol Hill where he is expected to meet top US Senators and Congressmen, including Democrat Leader of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, at least three governors including Nikki Haley and Chris Christie, and civil rights icon Martin Luther King's children.
Mr Hazare will also be sharing ideas with the Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and speaking at the prestigious Wharton School.
In a special interview to NDTV, Anna Hazare talks about the motivation behind his US visit, saying he wants "global youth to mobilize his anti-corruption movement".
Mr Hazare has also been approached to visit global conflict zones such as Egypt where he aims "to spread his message of peaceful protest". The Occupy Wall Street Movement has also asked Mr Hazare to be their face, and plans to start an international board of governance with him.
Anna Hazare told NDTV that the perception his movement has faltered due to internal differences is incorrect. "It is the national media that is not reporting the true picture because of political pressure. At least 50,000 volunteers are being trained to spread our message, and lakhs are waiting in the sidelines of our national tour," he said.
On being asked whether Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi or Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi held greater appeal as a prime ministerial candidate, Hazare said, "I cannot choose between them because they both represent parties which have misused India's constitution."
Calling the political parties the biggest beneficiaries of black money, Hazare said, "My aim is to educate citizens to keep pressure on all elected candidates, irrespective of political affiliations, and promote accountability."
Anna Hazare said that both India and Pakistan must try for a peaceful resolution to the recent Line of Control ceasefire violations, but added that if Pakistan continues to be an aggressor, India should retaliate forcefully. "I have a bullet mark on my forehead from the 1965 war, and if there is war, I will go to the border and fight for my country," Mr Hazare said.