Thaindian News

New Delhi, Oct 18 (IANS) The Congress, which is facing the brunt of Team Anna’s anti-corruption campaign, Tuesday condemned the attempted attack on Hazare aide Arvind Kejriwal at a public rally in Lucknow, saying “there is no place for violence in politics”.

“It (the attempted attack) is completely unacceptable. There is no place for violence in politics,” Law Minister Salman Khurshid told TV channels Tuesday.

Khurshid said he did not believe any mainstream party will resort to violence against the civil society movement. Some fringe elements of the political spectrum may induge in attacks, he added.

Saying that “some reactionary forces are at work”, Khurshid said it was the responsibility of the politicians, civil society and even the media not to “stoke the fire”.

He said the civil society leaders should also be careful about “their choice of words, places and the audience they are addressing”.

About provision of security to the civil society leaders, Khurshid said that “they must make their choice”.

Khurshid reiterated that the Congress was for a strong Lokpal with constitutional status as suggested by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi told reporters here that the party had nothing against Hazare and his team members, as it too was against corruption.

“We condemn it (the attack). We oppose it. We are against attack on anybody,” Alvi said.

“We have said nothing against Anna Hazare or his team members. We are also against corruption, the party is also against corruption and the government is also against corruption,” he said, adding that the party will not give any statement against Team Anna.

However, Alvi said the party had a difference of opinion with Team Anna on its campaign against the party without waiting for the winter session of parliament to take up the Lokpal bill.