Congress MPs on Thursday openly questioned the handling of the media by “crisis managers” and messing up in tackling Anna Hazare’s fast that began on August 16 for a stronger Lokpal Bill. They raised the issues after finance minister Pranab Mukherjee speech at the CPP meeting, specially called against the backdrop of Mr Hazare’s fast.
While the Rajya Sabha member Prabha Thakur asked why the government’s views on Lokpal and role of Parliament were not carried by the media, especially the electronic media which has been giving virtually a one-sided coverage to the Team Anna. A sitting Lok Sabha MP from Unnao Annu Tandon drew attention of the CPP how the BJP has been exploiting the agitation against the party in her constituency. “The BJP and RSS activists tore up Soniaji’s picture,” she pointed out.
Lok Sabha member from Northeast Delhi J.P. Agarwal wanted the CPP meeting to condemn Mr Hazare for saying saare MPs lutere hote hian (all MPs are looters). But privately many party MPs questioned the performance of the “crisis managers” in past few days. “They are ridiculing Anna Hazare without realising that he is speaking for the people, raising their problems effectively. If the government, Parliament and other constitutional institutions do not deliver, then such agitations are bound to emerge,” they said.