Sena MLA slams Anna for trying to dictate terms to Legislature

Mumbai, Apr 7: Notwithstanding growing support for his anti-corruption crusade, noted social worker Anna Hazare today came in for sharp criticism from Shiv Sena MLA Suresh Jain, who demanded that the Gandhian withdraw his campaign as there were charges of corruption against him too.

Jain, who has locked horns with Hazare in the past criticised him for trying to dictate terms to the Legislature and the Parliament.

The legislator said that Sharad Pawar chose to quit the Group of Ministers (GoM) framing the anti-corruption law after Hazare's criticism.

"But is Hazare a clean man ? He too should quit the anti-corruption movement since there are corruption charges against him as well," Jain said in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

The Sena leader said he supports the movement against corruption "but it is upto the people also to introspect rather than labelling others as corrupt."

"Those who want amendments in laws should do it in consensus with the legislative bodies and not dictate terms from outside. We are a democracy and our constitution is the best," Jain said.

Charges of corruption were levelled against the 72-year-old activist in a case of alleged misappropriation of his trust funds a few years ago.

Jain also criticised the media stating that it does not have any constitutional right like the Judiciary, the Executive and the Legislature.

"These days the media is exceeding its brief. It is trying to portray a picture that all the 288 elected members in the Assembly are corrupt thieves," Jain said.

Apart from outsiders, courts are also intruding in the rights of the Legislature and are trying to dictate terms, Jain said, a view which was supported by several members.

Yashomati Thakur of the Congress said she was served a court notice after the government official against whom she had moved a breach of privilege too the course of law.

Speaker Dilip Walse Patil said elected representatives should not accept notices and summons issued by the court.

PTI