Anna Hazare’s campaign for an anti-graft ombudsman came in for flak from the ruling party’s MPs at the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting here today.
J P Agarwal said Team Anna’s provocative remarks like calling MPs “looters” should be “condemned”, according to sources present at the meeting. Rajya Sabha MP Prabha Thakur said the government’s version was not reaching the people, who were fed “one-sided stories”.
Rahul Gandhi was present at the meeting, but did not speak. Asked by reporters later whether he was concerned about the standoff over the anti-corruption legislation, he said, “Of course, I am concerned.”
Annu Tandon said the District Congress Committee office in Unnao had been ransacked by Anna’s supporters, who tore Sonia Gandhi’s pictures. They were wearing Anna’s cap and carrying BJP’s flag, she said.
“As far as I understand, the independence of MPs is protected through privilege. They cannot be lured into or compelled into making a decision. Doesn’t it constitute breach of privilege to gherao their houses to force them to support any Bill?” Satyavrat Chaturvedi sought to know from Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. Mukherjee was said to have replied that legally, it did constitute breach of privilege.
Chaturvedi later said, “How can he (Anna) dictate or subvert the Constitutional process?”
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