Kolkata:
Under intense attack from civil society activists, the Congress in a counter-offensive of sorts, today launched a nationwide campaign to expose the allegedly communal forces behind Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev's campaign against corruption and black money.
Kickstarting the campaign, senior party leader and Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee hit out at the civil society activists for misusing the right to protest.
Speaking in Kolkata, Mr Mukherjee said, "They are saying, you will have to agree with what we are saying. Who has given them the legitimacy? If 5000 people support one person, does it justify these things?"
Stepping up the attack, Mr Mukherjee also claimed that the fasts were being sponsored and encouraged by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to further their political motives.
"The RSS is providing logistical support to these agitations. So it was decided to take on those who want to subvert the processes of the constitution... In a democracy, everyone has the right to agitate. But this cannot be used by parties, rejected by people, to resort to unconstitutional practices", Mr Mukherjee said.
The Congress' latest strategy seems to be based on the proverbial killing two birds with one stone.
The party intends to blunt the campaign by Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev, propping it as an agitation largely supported by the BJP which has latched on to the hunger strikes by the civil society activists to attack the government for inaction against corruption.
The Congress is also organising a public rally in Raipur on June 26 which central leaders are expected to attend.
The party has also brought out a booklet "The Congress View on Present Situation" which it plans to distribute among its workers. Pranab Mukherjee is learnt to have played a key role in formulating the party's counter strategy.