Thaindian News

Mumbai, Dec 25 (IANS) Dismissing reports of Anna Hazare’s links with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal Sunday said the government was spreading “rumours” about the activist in a bid to divert attention from the Lokpal bill.

Addressing reporters at Mumbai’s MMRDA grounds, where Hazare is scheduled to hold a three-day fast from Tuesday, Kejriwal asked: “What is the mistake of Anna Hazare? That he is raising his voice against corruption?”

Kejriwal denied reports by a Hindi newspaper that linked Hazare with the RSS.

The newspaper reported that Hazare had close association with RSS patriarch Nanaji Deshmukh. It also published Hazare’s photograph with Deshmukh, taken a few years back.

“The government is provoking us by saying Anna is an RSS agent. Congress government is targeting Anna unnecessarily by spreading such rumours. Even former president Abdul Kalam and Digvijay Singh have been photographed with Deshmukh,” Kejriwal said.

Kejriwal said it was the Congress’ “tactics” to divert attention from the Lokpal bill.

He also alleged that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was formed only to protect the government and not to stop corruption.

“CBI is under the government’s thumb. Whenever the government wants support from someone, they put CBI after them,” Kejriwal said.

Kejriwal landed here Sunday evening and checked the preparations at the MMRDA grounds in southcentral Mumbai.