Congress scion told to climb 'hills' first

“You climb hills before you reach Mt Everest. Lokpal is a tall hill which will take you to the Everest. Begin and prove the intention,” Kiran Bedi said. “The country is impatient for action and not a mere well-intentioned long plan on issues pending since Independence,” she added.

Social activist Medha Patkar said instead of talking about the broad issue, the Congress general secretary should have deliberated on the immediate issues raised by Hazare, whose fast for a strong Lokpal entered the eleventh day here on Friday. She added Gandhi sought to denounce the “popular movement” by his statement, saying it was wrong.

“Gandhi and others have also participated in popular struggle. These struggles do not weaken the democracy,” she said.

Another Team Anna member Justice Santosh Hegde said Gandhi’s suggestion for a constitutional body looked like a “five-year plan”.

While criticising Gandhi’s speech, the BJP said he should not indulge in giving sermons to the nation but rather persuade the prime minister to bring changes in the Lokpal bill. “We don’t want Gandhi’s sermons. It is surprising that he is giving sermons to the nation but his party under Manmohan is dilly-dallying on a strong Lokpal. We urge him to stop sermonising and persuade the Singh to bring changes in the Lokpal bill,” said BJP leader Ananth Kumar.