Accusing the Centre of carrying out a “sinister campaign” against Team Anna, Bharatiya Janata Party president Nitin Gadkari on Sunday wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, seeking his “personal intervention” to rein in government agencies and put an end to the “politics of vendetta harming the entire democratic polity.”
Stating that targeting close associates of social activist Anna Hazare, including Arvind Kejriwal and Prashant Bhushan, might lead to “confrontation rather than reconciliation,” Mr. Gadkari said: “All these moves are by any reckoning contrary to the fundamentals of democratic polity and more particularly, the socio-political culture of our country.”
“All this reminds me of the days of Emergency when, just as today various Central agencies like the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate, the Income tax Department and the Revenue Intelligence were unabashedly misused by your (Congress) government to harass those voicing dissent against the establishment,” he said. He referred to the “witch-hunt” against Baba Ram Dev besides those who acted as “whistleblowers” in the cash-for-vote scam.
“Undoubtedly, law must take its own course in the cases of all those who are guilty. What disturbs all those who are committed to the principles of democracy and rule of law is the fact that law is taking its course only selectively and after dissent is articulated,” Mr. Gadkari said in the letter.
Pointing out that the Opposition cooperated with the government in finding out a solution to end the impasse caused by Anna Hazare's fast in the capital, Mr. Gadkari said: “What is all the more worrisome is the fact that through such strong-arm tactics and high-handed actions your government is vitiating the political atmosphere in the country which is dangerous for a healthy democracy. Besides, such cheap tactics of your government are adding to the misperceptions about the entire political class, causing a great damage to the popular trust in democratic polity.”
The BJP had said it did not support the privilege notices slapped on members of Team Anna – Kiran Bedi, Mr. Kejriwal and Mr. Bhushan – for their adverse remarks against parliamentarians during Mr. Hazare's anti-corruption movement.
“The MPs must show large-heartedness and magnanimity and must not get provoked by comments including uncharitable ones by civil society members,” said BJP chief spokesman and general secretary Ravishankar Prasad.
