Differences in Congress over Anna surface

New Delhi, Aug 19: Differences within Congress over the way Anna Hazare issue was handled came to the fore with East Delhi MP Sandeep Dikshit stating that the Gandhian should not have been arrested and adverse comments made against him could have been avoided.

Asked whether Hazare's arrest was wrong, Dikhit replied in the affirmative. "It was wrong on the part of Delhi police. I would not say it was the decision of UPA government. But I think it was wrong on the part of Delhi police to arrest him," he told reporters.

The Congress MP said if the police thought it would lead to some public disturbance they could have detained him and as they negotiated in the evening for re-evaluation of the site and timing, they could have done that then and there.

"I think Delhi police should have been more proactive and arresting him was wrong. I am happy that the government came to know that it has done a mistake and rectified it. It is the largeness of the government that they made a mistake and rectified it," Dikshit said.

On how to end the standoff between the government and Team Anna, he maintained that Hazare should follow the process and come to the Standing Committee.

"The Bill is with the Standing Committee. The draft Bill goes through substantial changes. I can tell from my experiences as I was with the Standing Committee on Rural Development for NREGA and the Committee on Land Rehabilitation," he said.

The young MP insisted that Standing Committee makes substantial changes to any proposed legislation.

PTI