Veteran leader Vasant Sathe on Wednesday asked the Congress Party to follow general secretary Rahul Gandhi’s line in tackling the issues raised by social activist Anna Hazare.
Mr Sathe also disapproved the way the Centre has been handling the corruption issue in general and the protest by the Team Anna.
“Why did they arrest Anna Hazare, he has a democratic right to protest. Even during the pre-Independence days, people had used this right in their fight against the British rule,” he said.
Mr Sathe said that Mr Hazare should have been allowed to protest as this would help the government in cleansing the system. “We should be thankful to Anna for launching the crusade on this issue,” he said.
He also said that Mr Gandhi’s approach is constructive and positive on the issues raised by Mr Hazare and he is getting closer to the people and the civil society.
Asked about the Lokpal Bill, he said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself wanted the Prime Minister in the ambit of the Lokpal. But others must have convinced him that the Prime Minister should be kept away.
Meanwhile, Congress insiders, including MP’s fear that the “apolitical” approach of the crisis managers has given the corruption issue to the Opposition on a platter.
“They don’t know Anna Hazare. It was because of his pressure that Maharashtra was the first state in the country to make the RTI Act. He has positively influenced the transfer policy of the government employees,” a senior Congress leader said. Foreseeing that the Lokpal issue is converting into a battle against corruption across the country, Congress insiders, including its MPs, viewed the diversionary tactics on this issue would not only unite the Opposition parties but could antagonise floating voters, youths and the middle-class citizens.
“How can we launch a campaign against the Mayawati government in Uttar Pradeseh if we oppose Team Anna on curbing corruption?” they asked.
Another asked why the GoM (media) has not been able to keep things in perspectives, why are they blaming media, especially the electronic media in helping the Team Anna. This is because the crisis managers can silence questioners but cannot convice them.