Ralegan-Siddhi (Maharashtra), Dec 6 (IANS): Anna Hazare Tuesday admitted that he had "committed violence" when he asked why a man slapped Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar only once in New Delhi recently.

"But for the betterment of society, I do not consider this violence as wrong. Many politicians felt very bad about the slapping incident, many of them got very angry also," Hazare said in a post on his blog.

He said people held the person who asked the question (Hazare) more guilty than the man, Harvinder Singh, who had actually slapped Pawar.

The social activist said he had always maintained in the past that he should not be compared with Mahatma Gandhi.

"I am not even eligible to sit at the feet of Mahatma Gandhi but his thoughts have influenced my life in a very small way because of which I have been able to do some work in the field of rural development and non-violent struggle for the development of the country," Hazare said.

However, he said he sometimes also considers Chhatrapati Shivaji as his ideal.

"I do not want to hurt anyone with a sword, I do not want to use arms, I am against any kind of fist fight. But Gandhiji would describe use of strong words also as violence," Hazare said.

Harvinder Singh, who slapped Pawar Nov 24, was sent to 14 days in judicial custody by a Delhi court a day later.