Click to Expand & PlayRalegan Siddhi, Maharashtra: If the Congress guns are out in full force, 74-year-old Anna Hazare is not backing off either. In a direct message to Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, who suggested that the Gandhian contest elections, Anna has countered, "You have contested elections, how much have you done to stop corruption?"
And then, in a wider message for Mr Chavan's party, the Congress, the Gandhian activist smirked, "We talk of ending corruption...In 64 years not a single law against corruption has been passed." Anna's remarks seemed to be a veiled response to Congress President Sonia Gandhi's speech that was read out at a rally in Uttarakhand on Wednesday.
Mrs Gandhi's speech made heavy references to corruption and took on Anna Hazare directly when she said, "There is a lot of talk about corruption these days. No doubt corruption is prevalent in society in some form of the other. An atmosphere needs to be created against it. Corruption will not go by merely making speeches, by pointing a finger at others. Everyone needs to look within...You cannot eradicate corruption like this, that one thinks corruption by us is a holy affair while that by others amounts to corruption. This is what is happening these days."
She also wondered why all the hue and cry over the Lokpal Bill. Underscoring that the historic Right to Information Act which has helped unearth numerous cases of graft, was championed by her, she said, "All know that the Prime Minister and our party has said again and again that we are in favour of an effective and strong Lokpal Bill. The bill will be presented in Parliament and we will implement it."
On Wednesday too, Mr Chavan had suggested that Mr Hazare contest elections, something Congress leaders have said before and Anna Hazare has soundly rejected. Anna said in response, "The CM has said that Anna should take part in elections. So that means whoever fights corruption should take part in elections...So that means the entire population of 120 crore should take part in elections. What kind of democracy is this? In a democracy everybody has the right to speak. It's a constitutional right. You have fought elections, have you out the breaks on corruption?"
When asked if Mr Chavan should learn from Uttarakhand Chief Minister BC Khanduri and introduce a law against corruption, he said, "This is why I have sent the Uttarakhand draft to the Chief Minister. He should learn the principles of the Lokayukta Bill drafted by Uttarakhand CM. He should read it bring it his state too. Maharashtra should become ideal for other states to follow. He should learn from Uttarakhand draft how to remove corruption. It's such a wonderful bill."
He ended his remarks with a warning of sorts - "Such a law should be made in Maharashtra also. And if you can't do that, then the poeple of Maharashtra will raise their voice one day."
Uttarakhand, governed by the BJP, has earned lavish praise from Anna recently for recently introducing the "exemplary" Lokayukta Act.
Anna and his team have warned that they will campaign in states like Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, which are headed for elections, if a stringent Lokpal Bill is not passed in the Winter Session of Parliament. The Bill provides for an ombudsman agency which will be empowered to tackle cases of graft among government servants.
And then, in a wider message for Mr Chavan's party, the Congress, the Gandhian activist smirked, "We talk of ending corruption...In 64 years not a single law against corruption has been passed." Anna's remarks seemed to be a veiled response to Congress President Sonia Gandhi's speech that was read out at a rally in Uttarakhand on Wednesday.
Mrs Gandhi's speech made heavy references to corruption and took on Anna Hazare directly when she said, "There is a lot of talk about corruption these days. No doubt corruption is prevalent in society in some form of the other. An atmosphere needs to be created against it. Corruption will not go by merely making speeches, by pointing a finger at others. Everyone needs to look within...You cannot eradicate corruption like this, that one thinks corruption by us is a holy affair while that by others amounts to corruption. This is what is happening these days."
She also wondered why all the hue and cry over the Lokpal Bill. Underscoring that the historic Right to Information Act which has helped unearth numerous cases of graft, was championed by her, she said, "All know that the Prime Minister and our party has said again and again that we are in favour of an effective and strong Lokpal Bill. The bill will be presented in Parliament and we will implement it."
On Wednesday too, Mr Chavan had suggested that Mr Hazare contest elections, something Congress leaders have said before and Anna Hazare has soundly rejected. Anna said in response, "The CM has said that Anna should take part in elections. So that means whoever fights corruption should take part in elections...So that means the entire population of 120 crore should take part in elections. What kind of democracy is this? In a democracy everybody has the right to speak. It's a constitutional right. You have fought elections, have you out the breaks on corruption?"
When asked if Mr Chavan should learn from Uttarakhand Chief Minister BC Khanduri and introduce a law against corruption, he said, "This is why I have sent the Uttarakhand draft to the Chief Minister. He should learn the principles of the Lokayukta Bill drafted by Uttarakhand CM. He should read it bring it his state too. Maharashtra should become ideal for other states to follow. He should learn from Uttarakhand draft how to remove corruption. It's such a wonderful bill."
He ended his remarks with a warning of sorts - "Such a law should be made in Maharashtra also. And if you can't do that, then the poeple of Maharashtra will raise their voice one day."
Uttarakhand, governed by the BJP, has earned lavish praise from Anna recently for recently introducing the "exemplary" Lokayukta Act.
Anna and his team have warned that they will campaign in states like Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, which are headed for elections, if a stringent Lokpal Bill is not passed in the Winter Session of Parliament. The Bill provides for an ombudsman agency which will be empowered to tackle cases of graft among government servants.
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