Narendra Modi criticises PM's statement on Hazare's fast

Golakganj (Assam), Apr 6: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today claimed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement on social activist Anna Hazare's fast had created an emergency like situation similar to that in 1975.

''''Hazare's fast against corruption was being supported by people from all sections of the society but the Prime Minister refuses to accept the issue and was making irresponsible statement creating an emergency-like situation in the country'', Modi told a BJP poll rally here bordering Bangladesh.

Singh''s statement that the social activist was fasting under the influence of some persons and vested interests ''was not only insulting to Hazare but also to the nation as a whole'', the Chief Minister said.

''The Prime Minister cannot doubt his honest intention and the Centre should not consider him its enemy but accept the fact that corruption has assumed alarming proportion'', Modi said.

The situation is similar to that in 1975 when Jai Prakash Narayan had begun a fast protesting against the Indira Gandhi led Congress government's high handed and corrupt practices, he added.

PTI