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New Delhi
Miffed over Anna Hazare’s letter to Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi complaining against party general secretary Digvijay Singh and HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, the Congress remained noncommittal, with a section saying Hazare was not a “divine court” that everything he says be correct.
Asked whether the Congress would respond to Hazare’s missive to Sonia that “corrupt forces” have joined hands to launch a smear campaign against members of the civil society group in the Joint Drafting Committee on the Lokpal Bill, Congress spokesman Manish Tewari remained noncommittal. He said that if required, the party will respond and if need is felt, it may be even make it public.
However, he questioned in what direction the Indian democracy was being taken as objections are being raised to people expressing their views. He was apparently referring to Hazare’s criticism of Digvijay charging him with making statements which are “factually wrong which makes one to believe whether his only intention is to create confusion, mislead people and derail the ongoing discussions in joint committee.”
According to a section of the Congress, Gandhi need not reply to the Hazare’s letter as the social activist is not a “divine court” that everything he says must be correct and all his suggestions/criticism must be responded to.
Another section of the Congress feel that though Hazare himself is a good man who has worked for rural development in Maharashtra, he is “playing in wrong hand.”
However, they are in favour of wait and watch policy especially in view of controversy like CD row involving Committee co-chair Shanti Bhushan and his son and fellow panelist Prashant will bring the truth about the civil rights group members who are criticizing elected representatives and challenging the democracy and parliamentary system. They are even citing report of the Justice P B Sawant commission of inquiry against Hazare.
Meanwhile, eminent lawyer and BJP MP Ram Jethmalani has defended drafting committee co-chairman Shanti Bhushan who has been involved in a CD row which purportedly has shown him speaking to expelled Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh and his then leader Mulayam Singh indicating that his son Prashant for Rs 4 crore could “manage” a judge in their favour.
“I am 200 percent sure that Shanti Bhushan is too honourable a person to have done it. I am sure there is no truth in this,” Jethmalani said and added that the civil society has not been discredited by this controversy. He said that Hazare has earned a big victory by embarking on a correct part of fighting corruption.
Asked about father-son duo of Shanti and Prashant being included in the panel while Jethmalani who has been working on bringing back the black money stashed in Swiss banks being ignored, he said, “I do not believe in dynastic rule.”
Miffed over Anna Hazare’s letter to Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi complaining against party general secretary Digvijay Singh and HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, the Congress remained noncommittal, with a section saying Hazare was not a “divine court” that everything he says be correct.
Asked whether the Congress would respond to Hazare’s missive to Sonia that “corrupt forces” have joined hands to launch a smear campaign against members of the civil society group in the Joint Drafting Committee on the Lokpal Bill, Congress spokesman Manish Tewari remained noncommittal. He said that if required, the party will respond and if need is felt, it may be even make it public.
However, he questioned in what direction the Indian democracy was being taken as objections are being raised to people expressing their views. He was apparently referring to Hazare’s criticism of Digvijay charging him with making statements which are “factually wrong which makes one to believe whether his only intention is to create confusion, mislead people and derail the ongoing discussions in joint committee.”
According to a section of the Congress, Gandhi need not reply to the Hazare’s letter as the social activist is not a “divine court” that everything he says must be correct and all his suggestions/criticism must be responded to.
Another section of the Congress feel that though Hazare himself is a good man who has worked for rural development in Maharashtra, he is “playing in wrong hand.”
However, they are in favour of wait and watch policy especially in view of controversy like CD row involving Committee co-chair Shanti Bhushan and his son and fellow panelist Prashant will bring the truth about the civil rights group members who are criticizing elected representatives and challenging the democracy and parliamentary system. They are even citing report of the Justice P B Sawant commission of inquiry against Hazare.
Meanwhile, eminent lawyer and BJP MP Ram Jethmalani has defended drafting committee co-chairman Shanti Bhushan who has been involved in a CD row which purportedly has shown him speaking to expelled Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh and his then leader Mulayam Singh indicating that his son Prashant for Rs 4 crore could “manage” a judge in their favour.
“I am 200 percent sure that Shanti Bhushan is too honourable a person to have done it. I am sure there is no truth in this,” Jethmalani said and added that the civil society has not been discredited by this controversy. He said that Hazare has earned a big victory by embarking on a correct part of fighting corruption.
Asked about father-son duo of Shanti and Prashant being included in the panel while Jethmalani who has been working on bringing back the black money stashed in Swiss banks being ignored, he said, “I do not believe in dynastic rule.”
