Hazare slams Chavan, says fighting elections not enough

Ralegan Siddhi (Mah), Nov 10: Anna Hazare has taken exception to Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan's remarks that his team should come out in the open on joining politics, asking him whether only those who fight elections can speak against corruption.

"Now it is being said that Anna should fight elections. Does it mean that if somebody is speaking against corruption, he has to fight elections? If so, then 120 crore people in the country should stand for elections and they can speak against corruption only after that," he said.

He said politicians have fought elections but nobody has done anything to put a brake on corruption. "In the past 62 years, you have not brought a law that can fight corruption," he said.

His remarks came as a response to Chavan's remarks that it was "amply clear" that Hazare's associates want to join politics and asked them to be open about it.

"If you want to take part in politics, you must join it; politics will be enriched. It is now amply clear that his associates want to join politics," Chavan said.

"A clear stance should be taken, whether to contest elections or to support (someone) in elections. But, there is no point in taking a negative stance, that if the (Jan Lokpal) bill is not passed, I will oppose ( Congress)," he said.

PTI