Calls Herself The ‘Initiator’ Of Anti-Graft Move; Questions Anna’s Claims (Strange—She is leading one of the most corrupt governments)
New Delhi: Congress chief Sonia Gandhi launched a scathing attack on Anna Hazare group, saying that slamming others while attaching virtues to corruption of one’s own aides was not the right way to combat graft.
“Corruption
cannot be fought by thinking that corruption by us and our people is a pious act while that of others is corruption. This is what is happening these days,” she said.
The stinging comment did not name names but left few in doubt about the target given Hazare’s relentless attack on the Centre over graft amid controversies dogging civil society members over inflated travel bills, unpaid dues of government and land allotment. The Congress chief’s speech marked Congress’s aggressive intent on Hazare group amid indications that the Lokpal proponents would not relent on their dogfight with the ruling party despite government assurances to passLokpal Bill in the winter session of Parliament. Given the experience of Hisar by-elections and BJP-led Uttarakhand government’s decision to adopt the Lokpal bill with gratitude for Anna Hazare, Congress thinks that confronting the rivals is the best way out.
The strong words elicited immediate response from Hazare camp. While civil society ignored the attack which, by all indications, was directed at it, the group welcomed the Congress chief’s public commitment to bring a strong Lokpal Bill in the winter session while adding that mere speeches were not enough. Sonia did not go to Gauchar in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand for the public rally because, the AICC said, she was indisposed. But her speech was read out to the gathering which outlined the party strategy to counter BJP’s aggression on graft in poll-bound Uttarakhand and Punjab.
She also expressed concern over inflation which she said was burdening the common man. She urged the government to initiate steps to give relief to the people. In a first of sorts, the Congress chief called herself the initiator of anti-graft focus while directly questioning Anna’s authorship on Lokpal and corruption.
‘Mere speeches on corruption not enough’ Responding to Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s statement that the government was committed to bringing a strong Lokpal Bill, Team Anna said speeches were not enough and hoped that the government would deliver on its promise. “We welcome Sonia Gandhi’s statement. We hope the prime minister will keep his assurance and a strong Lokpal bill will be passed as per ‘sense of the House’,” key team member Arvind Kejriwal responded in a tweet. He hoped that the government would honour Sonia’s commitment of getting a strong Lokpal during the winter session. “Me
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