Congress red-faced as MP brands Anna a traitor

Much to the Congress' embarrassment, a CD is circulating in the state's political circles, which shows Anna Hazare being called a 'traitor' and 'anti-national' in a Mahila Congress programme on Independence Day.

The comment was made by Lok Sabha MP from Dewas Sajjan Singh Verma, known to be a Kamal Nath loyalist. The remark by Verma, who was a minister in the Digvijay Singh government, has irked both Anna's followers and the ruling BJP.

"If Anna is a traitor, there is no living patriot in this country. We are all traitors,'' said state BJP president Prabhat Jha. "Why did AICC spokesman Manish Tewari apologize for his demeaning statement on Anna Hazare? Was that because Anna is anti-national? Why did the Prime Minister write to Anna Hazare and Parliament pass a resolution?

There is no greater patriot than Anna right now and the MP's remarks against the national hero only show Congress is disturbed with the anti-corruption crusade. They fear the movement will see many a skeleton tumbling out of the Swiss bank cupboards.''

A day before Anna launched his fast for the Jan Lokpal Bill, Verma was the chief guest at the flag hoisting ceremony organized by Mahila Congress at Shujalpur. Speaking there, Verma had termed Anna's movement as a civil war-like situation. "State of affairs is such that a military nation like China is standing across the borders waiting for a weak moment. They have deployed their army at many places and made Pakistan the base. At this time, we need to protect and guard our nation and its dignity,'' Verma had said. "Mahatma Gandhi led a movement to drive foreign forces out of the country. But this is no time for a similar movement. I consider him (Anna Hazare) a 'gaddar' (traitor) and 'deshdrohi' (anti-national).

The Congress is tight-lipped on Verma's statement. Not only did Verma call Anna a traitor, but said explained to the Congress women workers that leaders make governments after toiling with sweat and blood. Outside the government and politics,

there were better intellectuals and professionals like doctors, engineers and professors who understand the workings of the nation more than a Hazare or Baba Ramdev.

While the Congress is ducking the issue, Anna's supporters are irate. "This is what Anna Hazare is fighting against. A government that brazenly supports the corrupt while attacking the man this country hails as a hero,'' said Sharad Singh Kumre, a civil society supporter who was one of the four persons who fasted in Bhopal for all 12 days during Anna's stir. "Rural and urban population has joined hands to bring this awakening against corruption and the ruling party of the country perpetually seems to be taking the side of corruption. Politicians fail to realize that if we are to evolve as a leading nation in the 21st century, then corruption has to be dealt with firmly. A nation steeped in corruption cannot rise. Anna has provided us an opportunity to rectify our errors.''