Thaindian News

New Delhi, Dec 22 (IANS) Slamming Anna Hazare, the Communist Party of India (CPI) Thursday said India has one Mahatma — Mahatma Gandhi — and it is wrong to say there is only one crusader against corruption in the country.

“There is only one father of the nation — Mahatma Gandhi. Let no one pretend or let us not allow anybody pretend to be a single crusader against corruption,” CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta told the Lok Sabha.

His comments invited a thumping support from the treasury benches including Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and her son and party general secretary Rahul Gandhi.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee too remarked “laws cannot be made on the streets” referring to Anna’s agitations in April and August demanding a strong Lokpal.

“Laws are not made on dharna manch,” he said.

Also hitting out at Hazare, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad said Team Anna was dictating to the members of parliament.

“They have called us thieves and traitors,” he said.

“Anna should fast for health benefits but not meddle in law making. Since it is chilling in Delhi, Anna decided to fast in Mumbai,” he said.

Cautioning the government not to rush with the Lokpal bill, Prasad said it should be kept in mind what kind of ombudsman is being considered by the house.

Dasgupta had also appealed to the Congress and to the government that “it should not do anything under duress.”

Referring to the impending phase of Hazare agitation, he asked: “Is it that we are not fighting corruption on our own and we are doing it because somebody else is threatening?”

Dasgupta added that Hazare was not the only one who fought against corruption, a number of parliamentarians have raised questions on corruption.

“We fought against corruption. The parties like BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), Congress, we (CPI) also fought corruption,” he said.