Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday said his remarks on the health of Anna Hazare, who is on fast for the past 10 days, were distorted.
Mr. Mukherjee made the clarification in the Lok Sabha when Leader of the Opposition Ms. Sushma Swaraj drew his attention to Team Anna’s claims that the government had said Mr. Hazare’s health was not its concern.
“What has appeared was totally distorted. No (such) word was said. I did not say a word (to that effect),” he said.
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As soon as the Lok Sabha met, Ms. Swaraj said after meeting with government representatives last night, Team Anna had claimed that Mr. Mukherjee had told them that Mr. Hazare’s fast was their problem and government had nothing to do with it.
She also pointed out that Mr. Mukherjee had said his remarks were distorted. “Since the Leader of the House is here, I would like him to tell the House what is right,” Ms. Swaraj said.
“I had requested Anna Hazare to break his fast. Nation requires a robust and healthy Hazare,” Mr. Mukherjee said.
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Upset over the lack of progress, Mr. Hazare’s representatives - Arvind Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan and Kiran Bedi - had said that the difference in government’s attitude was like “day and night”.