Maharashtra Congress slams Team Anna over anti-party agenda

The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) today accused Team Anna of having a specific anti-Congress agenda.

MPCC spokesperson Anant Gadgil said Hazare had all along maintained that his agitation was not against any party. "But, today's press conference indicates that people around him have specific anti-Congress agenda," he said.

The press conference in Ralegan Siddhi was attended by Arvind Kejriwal, one of the core members of Team Anna.

Gadgil questioned why Team Anna wants a referendum on Jan Lokpal Bill only in Amethi and Raibareli and not in Gandhinagar which is LK Advani's constituency.

According to him, Congress has proved by action that the party keeps the promise made, such as tabling of the Lokpal Bill in the Parliament and further referring it to the Standing Committee within the stipulated time.

"But now, the future course of the Bill requires participation of various individuals and parties," he said.

Earlier in the day, while addressing a press conference in his native Ralegan Siddhi, Hazare declared that he undertake a "anti-Congress" campaign in the upcoming UP assembly elections as well as other poll-bound states if the UPA failed to meet his demand of getting the Jan Lokpal Bill passed in the Winter session of the Parliament.

The Gandhian also announced that he would undertake a four-day fast in Lucknow, three days before the UP assembly elections appealing the voters to "inflict a crushing defeat on Congress."

"We are not going to tell the voters whom they should vote for. If the Bill is not passed in the winter session, we will ask people to vote for any party except Congress and choose a candidate of good character," he said.