Anna writes PM: Stop bashing people, talk about solving their problems
Social activist Anna Hazare. File Image | Photo credit: PTI
Dialogue is superior to conflict, social activist Anna Hazare said in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (July 22, 2026). He said he was pained by reports of police action and violence in Delhi and stressed that the government should address people’s concerns through dialogue, not suppression. He called the government’s response to climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike “undemocratic” and said the biggest responsibility of a democratic government is to maintain people’s trust.
“Whenever any irregularity in the functioning of the government is exposed, the responsibility is placed only on lower officials while the government itself takes credit for what is good. This is not appropriate. The ultimate responsibility towards the public lies at a higher level,” he said in his letter in support of the Jantar Mantar agitation.
The letter comes five days after he said the government should have opened talks with Mr Wangchuk, regardless of whether it wanted to accept his demands or not. Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption agitation held 15 years ago at Jantar Mantar was the subject of discussion during the current protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi against NEET paper leaks. The protesters demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Determination of liability
In her formal letter to the Prime Minister on Wednesday, Anna said the minister’s resignation request would lead to accountability and send a strong message to other ministers. Asking the government to be sensitive to the angst and discontent of the youth over paper leaks, delays in recruitment processes, unemployment and other issues, he said the issue cannot be seen as a mere matter of law and order. “Even in 2024, there were leaks of NEET exam papers and serious irregularities in the examination process. This year too, there were leaks of question papers. There were also reports of 22 students who committed suicide due to frustration. There were reports of large-scale irregularities in the results of re-conducted exams,” he wrote in the letter.
‘Display Limitations’
Anna urged the government to show restraint, sensitivity and tolerance towards the protesters and asked it not to treat the people’s voice as that of the opposition parties. He expressed dismay and concern that the government has not initiated any dialogue for a long time despite the peaceful protest going on for 25 days now. He said it was not in keeping with the spirit of a democratic system.
“The voice of the public should not be treated as the voice of the opposition. Protesters are also citizens of this country. Listening to them patiently, creating an atmosphere of trust and finding solutions through positive dialogue is the true measure of democracy. Our country is the heir of Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas of satyagraha and democratic values enshrined in the Indian Constitution,” he said, adding that it is natural for there to be differences between them to resolve differences and sensitivities.
Published – 22 Jul 2026 22:50 IST