Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: Hours after the anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare trashed Union minister V Narayanasamy’s allegations calling Team Anna “anti-national”, the Minister of State in PMO quickly came to defend his statement and reiterated that Anna was “a simple man”.
Earlier in a caustic attack on Team Anna, Narayansamy had claimed that Anna Hazare was surrounded by "anti-national elements" and those supported by "foreign forces".
"Anna is a simple man, but he is surrounded by anti-national elements and people who have been supported by foreign forces," the minister of state in PMO had told reporters.
"Anna is a simple man, but he is surrounded by anti-national elements and people who have been supported by foreign forces," the minister of state in PMO had told reporters.
Narayanasamy had alleged that Team Anna was a set of "self proclaimed" leaders with no public support who wanted to destabilise the government.
Rubbishing Narayansamy’s claims, Anna Hazare retorted that allegations against his team were to divert attention from the demand for a strong Lokpal bill and that if anti-corruption crusaders are viewed in this way, it is unfortunate.
Addressing a press conference today, Hazare said, "They (ministers) said that there are foreign powers behind Team Anna. They blame us but who are these foreign powers. They did not tell. What foreign power, which country, they did not tell. Such false accusations are not right," he said.
"If the Prime Minister sees the anti-corruption activists as anti-nationals, it is unfortunate for the country. If the Prime Minister feels that foreign powers are behind Team Anna, then it is necessary that he clearly tell the citizens who are those forces," he said.
Hazare sought to quash the allegations levelled by Narayansamy and ridiculed the minister's statement that he has no will to fight the battle against corruption.
"Punish me if I am guilty," he said, asking the government to show proof of foreign funding in his movement.
"We were cheated in the standing committee and in Parliament over the draft of Lokpal Bill," he said.
"Two days ago, we were told by the PMO that there is no evidence to substantiate charges against the 14 ministers. We have also sent the files to Sonia Gandhi, so that she can also read it, to see what your ministers are doing," Hazare said.
The government is diverting attention from Lokpal Bill, he said.
With PTI inputs
First Published: Tuesday, June 12, 2012, 21:12