New Delhi:
Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare has in his latest blog said the government has "a gang of four" that are bent on harassing the activists who work closest with him. "Every member of 'Team Anna' had to face accusations and character assassination by the 'gang of four'. Who are these people? Those are the very same people who are not in favour of Jan Lokpal Bill," he said in a blog last night.
(Read: In blog, Anna Hazare backs Kiran Bedi, blames 'gang of four')Though he suggests these four people are members of the Cabinet, he does not list their names.
Law Minister Salman Khurshid said today that he's not sure who Anna's talking about either. "I don't know who is the 'gang of four'," he said.
Anna hints strongly that the quartet he's referring to are the same ministers who worked with him on a committee that was meant to draft the anti-corruption Lokpal bill. After a fast in April that evoked huge public support, the government agreed to Anna's demand that civil society activists should be included in the formal writing of the bill. For the first time, a committee of five ministers and five activists were formally married to draft the legislation. The divorce followed sharp and quick. The ministers included Mr Khurshid; the non-government representatives included Anna. Team Anna accused the government of wanting to deliver a congenitally weak anti-corruption bill; the government said that the activists wanted an impractical law with authoritarian powers - one which would likely violate the constitution.
"The number of Ministers who are opposing Janlokpal Bill in Cabinet is handful. It is similar to a village where there are 2 to 4 goons who hold the entire village to ransom. In government there is a majority of people who are righteous but can't go against these ruffians," said Anna.
When asked if Anna's terminology is distressing, Mr Khurshid said, "Who am I to lecture someone lot older on what language should be used? I can say that I have never seen Anna using harsh words in his personal interaction."