Summary:
This prompted Hazare’s lawyer to send Malik a legal notice. Senior state Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar had on February 1 dismissed Malik’s claim and expressed his regrets over the latter’s remarks.However, Malik did not make any comment then. Pawar said, “Malik himself did not issue any clarification despite the fact that his remarks were personal and defamatory in nature and seemed deliberately made to insult the crusader.” He also demanded implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s report for welfare of the farming community. Hazare had resorted to the fast, as at least 38 letters written to the Prime Minister’s Office in this regard failed to evoke any response.Around the time when he proceeded with the fast, Malik made the alleged defamatory remarks attributing motives behind Hazare’s move..