Kiran Bedi's “Anna is India, India is Anna” draws criticism

New Delhi, Aug 21: Kiran Bedi, ex-IPS officer and a supporter of Anna Hazare attracted criticism after she after remark " Anna is India, India is Anna" at Ramlila Maidan.

Unfazed, the former IPS officer said that the comment was not a mistake. The comment have been drawn parallel to a similar one by DK Baruah, Congress President during the emergency in 1975-1977-"Indira is India and India is Indira."

On being asked further Bedi said , "Today what Anna is doing is for India, that is what I meant...''

According to A P Shah, ex-chief justice, Delhi High Court the comment was “objectionable" adding, "It reminded me of Emergency... It is too much...There is tyranny of virtue and tyranny of a dictator ... the claim that you are virtuous and now everyone should follow you is also dangerous."

Shah also expressed his concern over the ultimatum given by Team Anna to the Parliament to pass the Jan Lokpal Bill and said, "Civil society should have differing views. It is a misconception to say you represent the views of the entire population. And then to dictate to government that the bill that you have drafted must be passed is a subversion of parliamentary democracy. Why should we have consultations then? Laws can be made on the streets.''

Meanwhile, other supporters of the movement, Prashant Bhushan and Arvind Kejriwal kept aside from commenting. Kejriwal said , "We don't agree with this remark. She may re-think it, if she is asked about it again. We disassociate ourselves from it.''

"There shouldn't be any arrogance. If in a moment of excitement something was said...we are willing to rethink and withdraw it," he added further. He also said that the Hazare movement became a “frenzy".

OneIndia News