New Delhi:
In the wake of comments made by Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal calling parliamentarians rapists and murderers, Members of Parliament across party lines lashed out at Anna Hazare and his team members today. However, a censure motion submitted on the issue was rejected by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar.
In the Lok Sabha, winding up the debate on the issue, Meira Kumar without naming anybody said the dignity of Parliament should be upheld because people elect their representatives to the house with faith in them.
"Parliament reflects the collective view of the country. Any remark lowering the dignity of the house is unwarranted and unacceptable," she said in a brief observation at the end of the short debate.
However, she did not allow the censure motion given by National Democratic Alliance (NDA) convenor and Janata Dal-United (JD-U) head Sharad Yadav demanding that the Lok Sabha pass a resolution censuring Team Anna members.
During the debate, Mr Yadav had said that attacking the MPs has now become a trend. "There is a trend of targeting politicians. People should stay within their limits. We can take criticism...This house has thrown out corrupt people," said Mr Yadav. He was referring to Suresh Kalmadi and A Raja.
"Election Commission and Parliament should not be attacked," Mr Yadav added.
Mulayam Singh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party demanded that Mr Kejriwal should be called to the house and asked to explain his behaviour. "He should be called in the house, stand here and explain his conduct," the SP chief said.
Many MPs asked the speaker to move a resolution condemning the unsavoury remarks by members of Hazare's team during their renewed anti-corruption agitation at Jantar Mantar on Sunday, where Arvind Kejriwal had said that Parliament was facing a credibility crisis with 162 sitting MPs facing criminal charges. He had also said some MPs were thieves and rapists.
The censure motion, if adopted and voted by a majority in the house, would have meant a severe criticism of Team Anna members with them being named, but they would not have to be called to the house as under a privilege motion.
Soon after the debate, Team Anna members said they stood by their criticism. "There was a debate in Parliament today. But the question still remains - should there not be a fast track court to try MPs facing criminal charges? Should Parliament's dignity not be protected? How long will we have to wait? We want answers to these questions. I don't wish to say more," said Mr Kejriwal.
Another Team Anna key member Kiran Bedi said it was an opportunity for a debate in Parliament on trying to understand the real reason for public outcry which is for clean politics. "Parliament could have resolved not to give tickets to persons who have been judicially charged of serious heinous crimes. And also have special courts to expedite trials of such persons who want to represent the people in the temples of democracy," she said.
"A historical opportunity lost. It also reaffirms the public perception of non-seriousness to root out corruption but muzzle the voices which are questioning the increasing criminalisation of politics as the main reason for passing a weak Lokpal in Lok Sabha," Ms Bedi added.
Earlier today, in his blog, 74-year-old Anna said politicians and their "who are you to question us" attitude is an insult to the Constitution.
He said that he accepts and respects the prerogative of Parliament to form laws. However, he said, political leaders have failed the nation because they have not been able to introduce critical laws like the Lokpal Bill, which is designed to fight corruption. Through last year, the Gandhian and his aides have campaigned for the urgent need for a new ombudsman called the Lokpal. Its nine members will be empowered to investigate complaints of graft against public servants. It was because of Anna's hunger strikes last year and the massive public support they drew that Parliament began debating the Lokpal bill in December. The bill has been passed in the Lok Sabha, but is stuck in the Rajya Sabha, where opposition parties have demanded a series of major amendments.
In the past, parties like the BJP have backed Anna's movement. But yesterday, Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj delivered a scathing indictment of the activists. In the Lok Sabha, she said that the activists describe Members of Parliament as rapists and thieves. It was the same MPs, she said, who agreed in August last year to consider 74-year-old Anna's vision of a new anti-corruption Lokpal Bill.
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With IANS and PTI Inputs)