Mani Shankar lashes out at Anna, terms talks a 'mistake'

New Delhi, Dec 21: Lashing out at Team Anna and Anna Hazare, Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar said that the government did a mistake by holding talks with the anti-corruption crusader.

"We made a huge mistake in converting this Team Anna into a Frankenstein's monster. Now they have had their say, we have thought about it," he said.

"It is my job as a Parliamentarian to legislate. I had plenty of time to legislate and I hope that we get through this Lokpal Bill and can tell Team Anna to go back to flogging drunkards in Ralegaon Siddhi," he added.

Former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee appealed to Anna and his team to have patience over the issue.

"Please be patient. Don't be suspicious of government's intentions. Have a little trust. See the government has given in on certain matters as the Prime Minister, the CBI, may be you have a point. If you had waited for so long, why this deadline?" he said.

Upset with the government, Anna Hazare will now go ahead with his fast from Dec 27 alleging that a "weak" Citizens Charter Bill proved that the government's intentions were not honest.

Anna also said that the government cheated the people and he would campaign against the government in the Assembly elections in five poll-bound states.

"Let the government go its way, we will go our way. I have decided that I will continue to fight till there is life in me," he said.

"More bills are coming. But from the one (Citizens' Charter Bill), we know that what it is in store. They have brought a topsy-turvy Citizens' Charter Bill," he said.

Anna decided to go forward with the plan to fast as the government excluded the CBI from the Lokpal's ambit.

OneIndia News