Rejecting Mr Anna Hazare's contention that it was crushing his constitutional rights by not allowing his protest at a desired venue, the Government today said the demand itself was “unconstitutional” and his agitation on Lokpal Bill at this stage was an “affront” to Parliament.
Union Ministers, Mr Kapil Sibal and Ms Ambika Soni also slammed Mr Hazare for his letter to the Prime Minister written on Saturday saying the language used in the letter “is not Gandhian” from any point of view.
“Is all that he has written in the letter shows any Gandhian mindset? It is not known who has written the letter but it has Mr Anna Hazare's signatures. Nobody has attempted to hit the Prime Minister in such a below-the-belt manner,” Ms Soni told reporters at a press conference on a Sunday.
Both the Ministers, however, dismissed suggestions of the Government reacting “in panic” over the issue.
Mr Sibal alleged that the Anna Hazare team was raking up a controversy over the venue as it wanted to hog media limelight by protesting at a centrally located area. “You want to show your face before channels' cameras. You want all TV cameras to be focused on you,” he said.
Reacting to Mr Hazare's allegation that the Government was putting impediments in his proposed fast, the Union Minister said, “The right to protest does not mean right to protest at your choice. There is no right to protest at place of your choice and convenience.”
He also cited judgments of the Supreme Court and the Delhi High court to support his stand. “The protest is thoroughly unconstitutional.... It is an affront to Parliament,” he said questioning the purpose of the fast and alleging that there were some “other powers” behind the agitation and it had a different purpose.
Mr Anna Hazare today hit back asking the ruling party to prove the charges or he will continue with his proposed fast even if civil society's version of Lokpal Bill is cleared in Parliament.
“I want the Government to lodge an FIR against me and conduct an inquiry,” he said responding to the allegations of the Congress which had cited the report of Sawant Committee. Addressing a press conference here, Mr Hazare said he will not call of his proposed fast from August 16 on Lokpal issue till his name is cleared or the charges are proved.
“Even if Jan Lokpal Bill (the version of civil society) is cleared in Parliament, I will not call off my indefinite fast, till the charges levelled against are proved or my name is cleared. Is this how people are maligned?” Hazare asked.
“They indulge in corruption and ask us the source of money. People of Maharashtra know how I get the money. For the past 20 years, I have been in social service. I keep a bag and people donate from Rs 5o Rs 10 and this is how I collect money. Every thing is accounted and is on Internet,” he said.