Anna Hazare insulting Parliament, indulging in politics: Congress

Facing attack on Lokpal issue, Congress today accused Anna Hazare of insulting Parliament with his campaign at Jantar Mantar and said it was nothing but coming together of detractors of the party and the government.

"Whatever has happened at Jantar Mantar is premature and they should have waited for the final shape of Lokpal Bill which would be passed by Parliament," party spokesman Rashid Alvi said.

"Laws cannot be made at Jantar Mantar. I have no hesitation in saying that Annaji is insulting Parliament," Alvi said, adding that the activist has had his say and should now allow Parliament to carry out its mandate.

He accused Hazare of indulging in politics by attacking Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and party general secretary Rahul Gandhi.

"It is the Constitutional right of Annaji to sit on protest, but the manner in which he is trying to target Rahulji and Soniaji makes it clear that he only wants to indulge in politics," he said.

His remarks came soon after several political parties, including BJP, Left parties, BJD shared dias with Hazare and backed Team Anna's key proposals for a strong Lokpal.

"It was an assembly of anti-Congress organisations. Nothing has happened beyond our expectations," Alvi said.

He warned against exerting "unnecessary pressure" on any isuse.

The Congress leader pointed out that Parliament was not bound to accept every suggestion of the Standing Committee and at the same time it go beyond its recommendations.

He contended that there were inherent contradictions in Hazare's utterance when he exhorts every institution to work independently and at the same time expects the government or the Congress to influence the Standing Committee to accept the activist's version of Lokpal.

"On one side Hazare says all institutions should work independently --  CVC, CBI, Lokpal -- on the other he expects the government or Congress to put pressure on standing committee to adopt Annaji's Lokpal," Alvi said.

He said Hazare should not have lowered the dignity of the Parliamentary Standing Committee by criticising it.

He said as promised, the government had introduced the Lokpal Bill in Parliament and the same has been examined by the Standing Committee which has representatives from all political parties.

"Parliament will debate and decide on the Lokpal Bill. Nobody is bigger than Parliament or Constitution. The country runs as per the Constitution and not by raising slogans," he said.

Alvi said the Congress will continue to fight corruption at all levels.

"Corruption cannot be fought by laws alone, there has to be a change in the social mindset and we all have to do it together," he said.

Earlier, Congress had accused Team Anna of mounting "unnecessary pressure" on Parliament.

"This type of attempt is to bring unnecessary pressure on Parliament and democracy," Congress General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi had said yesterday.