Thaindian News

Mumbai, Aug 23 (IANS) President’s rule should be imposed in the country as the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government has been unable to control the anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare, Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray Tuesday said.

“Recently, Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani had advised Prime Minister (PM) Manmohan Singh to tender his resignation. However, since the entire government has been tainted, only the PM’s resignation is not enough - the government must go,” Thackeray said in an editorial in the Shiv Sena’s eveninger mouthpiece Dopahar Ka Saamna edited by him.

Hazare’s fast for a stronger Lokpal bill that began Aug 16, continued for the eighth day Tuesday.

“The only solution is to impose president’s rule in the country and this useless (UPA) government should be given the sack. In its place, a government ‘with character’ should be installed which can ensure the country’s security,” Thackeray added. Under the constitution, there is no provision for imposing president’s rule at the centre.

Thackeray also lashed out at prominent members of Hazare’s team like Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kejriwal for “their antics” before the media.

While Anna is fasting, Bedi and Kejriwal are feasting, he said.

“They make absurd statements like ‘Anna in India, India is Anna’,” Thackeray said, referring to Bedi’s statement inspired by a similar remark ‘Indira (Gandhi) is India, India is Indira’ during the Emergency.

Hazare’s agitation would end just as Gandhi’s government fell in 1977 if he fails to rein in the “shining brigade” of Bedi and others, Thackeray warned.

Hazare was taken to the Tihar Jail Aug 16 and released later in the evening — but he refused to move out. He came out of the prison Aug 19 and has since continued his fast at Ramlila ground of New Delhi.