Chandrapur, Maharashtra:
Gandhian activist Anna Hazare has invited Army Chief General VK Singh to join his campaign against corruption after his retirement. "It is my request to General Singh that we have fought one war with them (British), now to fight with enemies in our home, he should come to assist us. This fight is more important than that one. This is more important as these are our people. This is therefore more significant, and if he joins us we'll welcome him," said Mr Hazare in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra
His team member Kiran Bedi also tweeted saying, "Anna's invite to General VK Singh is most appropriate. Imagine if ex-servicemen join Anna, they can become a formidable voice against corruption."
This is the first time that Anna has thrown open an invitation to the Army Chief who will be retiring this month.
Way back in August last year, General Singh had shown tacit support to the anti-corruption campaign started by Mr Hazare. "We are witnessing the power of democracy, the power of the people," General Singh had said, a comment considered by many, to be out of turn for a serving armyman.
Mr Hazare is currently touring the state of Maharashtra to garner support for a stronger Lokayukta Bill. The 35-day long state-wide tour, which ends on June 5, will be his first major assignment after the December 2011 agitation in Mumbai.
Mr Hazare will be in Mumbai on June 2 and will visit New Delhi on June 3 to take part in an agitation by yoga guru Ramdev at Jantar Mantar.