|
|
|
|
|
Anna’s Modi praise triggers war of words New Delhi, April 13 Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader Medha Patkar who had come out in support of Anna Hazare was the latest to raise her voice against Anna for espousing Modi’s cause. She said today, “It was shocking to find that Anna Hazare after receiving support by all of us, publicly appreciated the rule of law as well as rural development work by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Modi’s response to the initiative to bring in a strong enactment to wipe out corruption is, to say the least, only politically motivated.” AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh targeted Anna for issuing a certificate of good work to Narendra Modi saying, “There is no Lokayukta in Gujarat for seven years. The post is vacant and he is praising Modi. Why does he not pressurise Modi over the Jan Lokpal Bill and for appointing the Lokayukta as people do not know where to complain?” All this has obviously disturbed the crusader against corruption for he issued a statement warning of the dangers of schism in the movement. He said, “Our victory so far over corruption, falsehood, injustice and oppression is indisputable and unprecedented. But it is also clearly evident that there is a handful of people who are already active trying to create schisms in the coming together of all sections of our society to fight for corruption-free society. These handful of people want to break up our collective power and try to create discord. “It is important that we are able to see through their designs…Our victory so far bears out that we have chosen the right and noble way forward for our country, but our destination is way ahead.”Hazare concluded by saying, “I appeal to each Indian to keep our unity in this fight against corruption”. He set off the controversy when, a day after breaking his fast, Anna issued a certificate of good governance to Modi and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar at the Press Club of India. After immediate media protests, he amended it saying he did not approve of Modi’s communal agenda. But that didn’t satisfy activists like Mallika Sarabhai, Prajapati and Medha Patkar working among the tribals and other underprivileged sections of the Gujarati society. They disputed Anna’s certificate of good governance to Modi and even urged him to go to the state and see things for himself. Sarabhai dispatched a letter stating, “There has been little or no rural development in this state…the state is under terrible debt because of his largesses to the industry while 21 lakh farmers are wait for compensation. Your endorsement is appalling and we will be forced to distance ourselves from the Lokpal movement unless it is irrevocably retracted.” Meanwhile Union Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khrusheed, a member of the Joint drafting Committee for the Jan Lokpal Bill, also asked all concerned to exercise restrain appealing to them not to draw lines from where they cannot retreat,.“The problem is before the committee can meet, everyone is giving their suggestions and points of view and drawing lines beyond which they won’t retract. It is not good for a negotiating atmosphere. Everybody should go with an open mind. Everybody knows the constraints and let’s see how much we can overcome.”
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
