In a rare show of unity, MPs in Lok Sabha hit out at Team Anna today for using derogatory language against parliamentarians and political parties were mulling a House resolution to condemn the disparaging remarks.
Kejriwal deiant
But key Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal who fuelled the row with his description of MPs remained defiant, saying he had not said anything wrong and that Parliament now has a 'serious problem of credibility' as people are losing faith in it since there were 162 lawmakers with criminal records. The MPs should do some introspection, he added.
A consensus appears to be emerging in the Lok Sabha that the House pass a resolution moved by the Chair against members of Team Anna for using intemperate language against MPs.
Suggesting that Hazare should remain within his limits, Bharatiya Janata Party \member and leader of opposition Sushma Swaraj accused him of using unparliamentary language against the legislators.
"Anna should remain within his limits... he is using unparliamentary language," said Swaraj.
Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal had on Sunday alleged that 165 parliament members, including 14 ministers, were corrupt and rapists.
Swaraj and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal discussed the prospects of getting the Chair to move a resolution in this regard which would be supported by the House.
'Uncivil language'
JD(U) President Sharad Yadav asked the Chair to move a resolution condemning the the 'uncivil' language used against MPs during Anna Hazare's day-long fast here yesterday with some members in the Lower House saying it was deviating from its objective to fight corruption. The group was also accused of waging a fight against the political class.
Leader of the Opposition and BJP leader Sushma Swaraj led the charge in the Lok Sabha saying that by speaking against democratic institutions, the civil society members were indirectly inviting dictatorship.
She said while on the one hand, the group wants the Lokpal Bill to be cleared by Parliament and on the other, it was accusing the MPs of being corrupt.
Swaraj said if MPs were described as 'looters', 'corrupt' and 'rapists' by Team Anna then why did it send three of its demands to be incorporated in a resolution passed by Parliament. She said the issue was not limited to an individual or a group of MPs but the entire institution which is the anchor of democracy in the country.
Yadav, who is also NDA convener, said Hazare should have stopped his colleagues from targeting Parliament and using such a language against parliamentarians. He also accused Team Anna of 'working against Parliament'.