Union Agriculture Minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday hit out at social activist Anna Hazare for his remarks justifying the recent assault on him, saying that if there are any further attacks on him “it would be amply clear from where the instigation emanates.”
Expressing hurt at the “vituperative views” expressed by Mr. Hazare (in his blog posting on Tuesday), Mr. Pawar said by supporting physical assault on him, the activist had given a new definition to the concept of “Gandhism and non-violence.”
In a statement issued here, he urged his supporters to address Mr. Hazare's views with maturity and restraint and not to indulge in any sort of “retaliatory violence of word or deed.”
NCP supporters had rioted in Mr. Hazare's village, Ralegan Siddhi, following the assault on their leader by a Delhi-based transporter last month.
Mr. Pawar's statement came in response to Mr. Hazare's observations that one should think why the Minister was attacked.
“I have no objection to Shri Hazare expressing his thoughts regarding me or my actions. However, in the event of any further physical assault on me, it would be amply clear from where the instigation or encouragement for such acts emanates.''
Referring to the report of the Justice Sawant Commission, Mr. Pawar said the findings had no “direct or indirect” reference to him. Moreover, all the three Ministers indicted in the report had already tendered their resignations.
He, however, pointed out that “ironical enough, no action seems to have been taken on the issue of mal-administration and corruption mentioned in the commission report regarding Mr. Hazare.”
Earlier this year, Mr. Pawar had stepped down from the government's Group of Ministers that was set up to suggest measures to tackle corruption, after Mr. Hazare objected to his presence on it.