Veteran social crusader Anna Hazare has received a death threat from a Canada-based Indian resident, an aide said on Wednesday.
Hazare’s office has lodged a complaint with Thane Police and also written to the Maharashtra director general of police about the death threats posted on Facebook on February 24-25.
According to the complaint with the DGP, a Canada-based NRI Gagan Vidhu made a post on Februray 24: “Time has come to kill Anna Hazare. I will be next Nathuram Godse soon.”
Three ‘likes’ were notched for this threatening post.
Gagan Vidhu expanded his threat the following day, on February 25: “… I am not kidding. I am coming to India soon. I will arrange for gun and shoot this modern ghandi (Gandhi). I hate (Arvind) Kejriwal so much I can do anything to spoil him.”
The post continued: “I have collected all the documents – My friend Neil in New Delhi is working on it. We will expose Kejriwal soon, then I have to play role of Nathuram Godse. I am not joking. I am very serious. I can do anything for my Bharat Mata.”
Not taking the threats lightly, an aide Ashok O. Gautam has lodged a first information report (FIR) with Thane police and sought immediate action in the matter.
The death threat has come ahead of the 77-year-old Hazare’s proposed 1,100-km-long three-month march (padyatra) from Gandhi Ashram in Wardha to Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi to protest the Land Acquisition Act. The march schedule will be finalised next Monday.
