New Delhi: Congress on Wednesday hit out at Anna
Hazare saying he should not call himself Gandhian as he
justified slapping.
"It is unfortunate that a man like him who is so
experienced, is speaking in favour of propagating violence. He
should not call himself Gandhian because these views are not
in line with Mahatma Gandhi's ideology. It is unfortunate that
he is supporting violence," party spokesperson Renuka
Chaudhary said.
She was reacting to Hazare's remarks that a person is
left with no option but to slap when his power of tolerance of
corruption runs out.
Talking to reporters in his native village Ralegaon
Siddhi last night, Hazare said, "When a man's power of
tolerance runs out, then whoever is in front of you, if a slap
is given, then the brain is put back in place. That is the
only road open now".
Hazare made the remarks after watching the Hindi film
'Gali Gali Chor Hai' based on the common man's fight against
corruption.
On November 24 last year, Hazare had sparked a row by
appearing to approve of the slapping of Union Minister Sharad
Pawar by a youth in Delhi. He had, however, later condemned
the attack on Pawar.
Condemning Hazare's remarks, AICC general secretary
Digvijay Singh said his respect for Hazare has "gone down"
after this statement.
"I had always believed him (Hazare) to be a Gandhian, a
practitioner of non-violence. But with the kind of violent
streak he is showcasing, my respect for him has declined. I
condemn the statement," Singh said.
Union Minister Sachin Pilot also found Hazare's remarks
"contrary to the essence of our culture".
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, January 25, 2012, 15:58