New Delhi: Not amused by the language used
by Anna Hazare in his criticism of Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh and senior Ministers, Congress on Tuesday asked the Gandhian
to maintain the limits of civility in a political discourse.
"Congress believes that the essence of democracy is
dignified discourse. ....It is necessary that it should be
couched in dignified words", party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi
told reporters when asked to comment on Hazare`s criticism of
the Prime Minister and his ministerial colleagues.
Noting that though everyone is entitled to have his own
view in a political or civil discourse, it was "not necessary"
to use strong and negative words and "maryada" (limits) should
be maintained.
"Language of civility must continue to inform political
and non-political forums", he said
Singhvi`s remarks came close on the heels of Hazare
describing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as a nice person who
was "ineffective" because of being "remote-controlled" by
senior ministers.
Hazare also said many people "inside the Congress think
they are the prime minister". Criticising Finance Minister
Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister P Chidambaram and HRD Minister
Kapil Sibal, Hazare, who was part of the Joint Drafting
Committee along with the three, said they "behaved like prime
ministers"
Accusing Chidambaram of "masterminding" his arrest on
August 16, Hazare said, "The government wanted to do a Ramdev
on me. It had kept a plane ready to take me from Tihar jail to
Mula Dam in Maharashtra. But Chidambaram`s strategy
boomeranged on the government," he said.
Singhvi ignored Hazare`s statement that he would support
a front consisting of non-corrupt people from non-BJP,
non-Congress parties but not lead them.
"That is for him to see. Whom they like or do not like
and if they find any such entity to support", he said.
PTI
