Team Anna faces MPs' ire, notices to Kejriwal, Bhushan

A day after Team Anna members launched a frontal attack on the government, accusing it playing ''dirty tricks'', Anna Hazare's key associates Prashant Bhushan and Arvind Kejriwal Saturday received notices of breach of privilege from parliament.

Another Anna associate and former top cop Kiran Bedi and actor Om Puri have already been issued breach of privilege notices by parliament. "I have received notice from parliament. I have not read it yet, but my mother called to inform me about it," Kejriwal told IANS Saturday. Earlier Saturday, Bhushan was also served notice for his remarks against members of parliament. "The notice was sent through speed post at his residence in Ghaziabad," an India Against Corruption activist said. The members were addressing media on the issue of IT notice served on Kejriwal, asking him to pay Rs.9 lakh for violating the terms of his Indian Revenue Service bond. Reacting to the IT notice to Kejriwal, Bhushan Saturday said the absolute privilege enjoyed by members of parliament needs to be re-examined. "If speaking the truth or expressing our opinion in public interest is treated to be a breach of privilege by parliament or its members, then I think the time has come to re-examine as to what constitutes parliamentary privilege," Bhushan told Times Now channel. "Whether this kind of privilege by which MPs can issue breach of privilege notices to persons who are merely highlighting and commenting upon what they are saying... needs to be re-examined," he said. Bhushan was served the notice for alleging that members of parliament take bribes to pass laws. He has been asked to file a reply by Sep 14. Bedi also faces a privilege motion for her remarks against parliamentarians. Addressing the Ramlila Maidan gathering where Hazare sat on a 288-hour fast from Aug 16 for a strong Lokpal bill, she had accused politicians of wearing "several masks" at the same time. Om Puri also launched a blistering attack on politicians from the stage at Ramlila Maidan. He told the thousands gathered that he feels "ashamed when an IAS or IPS officer salutes a ganwar (illiterate) who is a neta (political leader)." "Yeh anpadh hain, inka kya background hai? Aadhe se zyaada MP ganwaar hain," Om Puri, known for his character roles, told the cheering crowd. However, the 60-year-old actor later apologised and said he was ready to face any action by MPs. "If they are still angry with me, I will take whatever punishment they give me." Bedi, however, refused to apologise and maintains she is ready for any punishment