Social activist Anna Hazare's nephew Vinayak Deshmukh on Saturday returned to the Congress, after having remained a Nationalist Congress Party member for nearly two years.
Asked about the timing of his re-entry, Mr. Deshmukh told a press conference here that he had been in touch with the party leaders for the past three months.
“Every organisation has a separate work culture. After having been in the NCP for two years, I didn't feel that I was fit for their work culture, so I returned to the Congress.”
Mr. Deshmukh said he supported Mr. Hazare's movement for a Jan Lokpal Bill. “I have always supported Anna. I will always remain associated with his protests.”
Then why did he join the same party against which Mr. Hazare started the anti-corruption movement? Mr. Deshmukh said the Congress had never opposed Mr. Hazare's movement.
Asked about his re-induction, Pradesh Congress Committee president Manikrao Thakre said the party itself was against corruption.
“We ourselves want corruption to be rooted out. Besides, Mr. Deshmukh was with the party previously. He has now returned to us.”
Asked about Maharashtra Industries Minister Narayan Rane's comment that the Shiv Sena had taken Rs. 500 crore to stall the Jaitapur nuclear power project, Mr. Thakre said: “He must have had some proof to say that. But I am not aware of it.”
