Mumbai: A nephew of noted social activist
Anna Hazare on Saturday returned to the Congress fold amidst
allegations that the party was behind the smear campaign
against the civil society members of the joint Lokpal Bill
drafting committee.
Vinayak Deshmukh, son of Hazare's sister, and a native
of Ahmednagar district, was associated with Youth Congress.
He left the youth wing to join the NCP and after
working in the Sharad Pawar-led party for a couple of years,
he is now back in the Congress.
"I was disappointed with NCP's style of functioning
and therefore decided to come back. It has nothing to do with
the anti-corruption campaign led by Hazare," Deshmukh said.
Deshmukh had supported the campaign as an "individual"
and was with Hazare in Delhi for some time during his fast
early this month. However, he insisted that his re-induction
into the party was decided much earlier.
"I wanted to come back and was in touch with the
Congress party leaders for over three months. There is noting
political behind my move," he said.
Maharashtra Congress President Manikrao Thakre, who
was present during Deshmukh's re-entry into the party, said,
"He had been a Youth Congress leader for a long time. He had
gone to NCP, but is now back into the party."
He denied any political motive behind Deshmukh's
decision. "Our party leader Soniaji has made her stand clear
about the campaign. The party is against corruption," he said.
Hazare had written a letter to Congress chief Sonia
Gandhi, asking her to rein-in her party leaders attacking
civil society members of the Lokpal Bill panel.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, April 23, 2011, 19:43