Amethi:
Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare may be on a maun vrat or "vow of silence" but he issued a strong written statement against how his associates were treated in Delhi.
Six people from his village, Ralegan Siddhi, travelled earlier this week to the capital to meet Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. They were told no appointment had been scheduled, nor could one be arranged. The sarpanch of the village, Jaisingh Rao Mapari, expressed his anger and said that after this, he would refuse to meet Mr Gandhi even if invited to do so.
Last night, Anna supported that stand in a written statement.
Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh today clarified that Mr Gandhi was in Bhutan when the delegation wanted to meet him. "The Congress has immense respect for Anna Hazare and his associates," he said.
Party spokespersons have said that the misunderstanding was caused by the office of Congress member of Parliament PT Thomas who visited Ralegan Siddhi a month ago. The sarpanch and others expressed the desire to meet with Mr Gandhi. The MP's office allegedly led them to believe this appointment had been fixed.