In a letter to Hazare, Gujral appreciated his "singular effort to galvanise" the entire nation of the issue of fighting corruption, which has spread to every organ of the society like a "cancer".
"I dare say that your clarion call has stirred our nation in a manner that is reminiscent of our Independence struggle, when young and old, rich and the poor selflessly dedicated themselves for the success of a movement that shaped our future," he said in the letter.
Noting that a "corrupt nation" cannot stay great for any sustained period, he said, "This is a decisive time and if our Parliament does not act now, history and posterity will not forgive us for squandering away our golden moment".
Recalling that he made a similiar appeal to the people 14 years ago from the ramparts of Red Fort, Gujral said, "What a Prime Minister could not achieve, a humble Gandhian has managed to -- that is the essence of this nation's greatness".
Published 23 August 2011, 09:50 IST