Ralegan Siddhi:
Angry over Anna Hazare's statement on the attack on Union Minister Sharad Pawar yesterday, NCP supporters today staged a protest at the Gandhian's native village in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district and clashed with his supporters.
Mr Pawar heads the NCP or the Nationalist Congress Party which is a key ally of the Congress at the Centre.
Yesterday, the minister was slapped by a man named Harvinder Singh at the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) headquarters in New Delhi. Harvinder Singh reportedly blamed Mr Pawar for rising prices of essential commodities.
While the attack was condemned by leaders from all parties, the anti-corruption crusader's reaction took many by surprise. "He got slapped! Only one slap?" Anna said to a group of journalists who broke out in laughter at his reaction. The 74-year-old, however, hastened to condemn the episode, saying such acts of violence were not good.
(Read: What Anna Hazare said)"He (the attacker) may be very angry. But this is not good. Anger is not good. Our Constitution does not tell us to be violent with anyone," he added.
Following the clashes between NCP workers and his supporters in Ralegan Siddhi today, Anna arrived at the scene to offer clarification.
"I have already condemned the attack on Sharad Pawar," he told NCP workers.
The Gandhian, however, asked why the NCP activists were so agitated over the assault on Pawar. "Why are you so angry now? Why don't you get angry when the farmers are lathicharged?" he asked. (With PTI Inputs)