Lok Sabha slams Team Anna

Cutting across the party lines, Lok Sabha members on Monday condemned anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare and his team for making derogatory remarks against Members of Parliament and demanded a parliamentary resolution against them.

Irate MPs took serious exception to a recent remark made by Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal at a public meeting where he had described parliamentarians as “rapist, looters and murderers”.

“If the parliamentarians were looters, corrupt and rapists, why did Team Anna send three of its demands for inclusion in a resolution passed by Parliament,” Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said. She said, “The civil society members were indirectly inviting dictatorship by speaking against democratic institutions.Team Anna should remain within their limits and desist from using unparliamentary language.”.

Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav demanded that a resolution be moved against Team Anna for using derogatory language against parliamentarians.

Anna Hazare should have stopped his colleagues from targeting Parliament and using such a language against parliamentarians.

Saying that he has fought for people’s cause and had even gone to jail, Yadav sought to know how many Team Anna members have gone to jail for raising issues of public interest. Congress members frequently thumped their desks in Yadav’s support as he took on Team Anna.

Vehemently criticising Team Anna, Congress member Sanjay Nirupam alleged that some “outside powers” were trying to destabilise the Indian system through non-government organisations as they were jealous of the country’s development.

Congress seeks probe

Congress members sought a probe to ascertain who was supporting Team Anna. The Opposition members were also seen supporting Congress’s demand. Admitting that he too had earlier supported Team Anna’s fight against graft, Nirupam said, “Now it seems that the group is waging a fight against the political class.”

Criticising the Team Anna, Samajwadi Party (SP) member Shailendra Kumar demanded action against the civil society members, urging all the parliamentarians to come forward together to defend the “temple of democracy”

Condemning Anna for their remarks against parliamentarians, CPM member Basudeb Acharia said it was not an attack on any individual but “the reputation of the entire House”.Later, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said Team Anna believes in “Kangaroo Justice” because they have leveled charges against parliamentarians without any evidence.

Kejriwal defends remarks

Anti-graft activist Arvind Kejriwal on Monday stood by his statement that the present Parliament lacks credibility since 162 legislators have criminal records, reports DHNS from New Delhi. “Parliament should recognise the problem.

If people are losing faith in Parliament, then it is a serious problem of credibility. They should introspect,” Kejriwal said while reacting to the criticism faced by Team Anna in the Lok Sabha for the language used while commenting on political leaders.

“I haven't said anything wrong. I am worried about Parliament,” Kejriwal said, adding that 1,176 MLAs have cases registered against them. However, Kejriwal said there are “good MPs but their voices are feeble.” Asked if he was ready to face privilege notice, Kejriwal answered in the affirmative.