NEW DELHI: Both ruling as well as opposition parliamentarians tried to pin down Indian anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare, who has been demanding the creation of national ombudsman in the country. While ruling Congress MP Jagdamnika Pal has slapped a breach of privilege motion against the 74-year-old Gandhian, Sharad Yadav, an MP from the opposition bench has filed a motion to censure the activist, who along with his team, popularly called ‘Team Anna' has been campaigning against non-transparency in governance, for over two years now. A key member of Team Anna, retired bureaucrat Arvind Kejriwal had said on Sunday that several MPs sitting in the Indian parliament were “thieves and rapists” and had said that Parliament was facing a credibility crisis with 162 sitting MPs facing criminal charges. MPs cutting across party lines asked the Speaker Meira Kumar to move a resolution condemning what they called were unsavoury remarks by members of Anna Hazare's team during their renewed anti-corruption agitation at the Capital on Sunday. “We have always been saying that democracy allows that (protest) but there should be a method. I am glad everyone realises this now,” Congress leader Salman Khurshid said. The Opposition party too condemned the loose statements by the anti-corruption crusaders. BJP leader Najma Heptullah said: “No one should denigrate the Parliament. No one can deny there is no corruption but it's not only among MPs but everywhere. It's a collective responsibility of the members and the Chair. There can be a discussion on this. The system has been established for years. Blanket abusing is not correct,” she said. Another MP Rajneeti Prasad, who incidentally tore the copy of the Lokpal (Ombudsman) bill in Parliament during the winter session last year, said Team Anna members should be booked under the National Security Act (NSA). “They should not be allowed to hold any campaigns and protests. They should be booked under NSA. Team Anna has attacked democracy and played with the sentiments of the people. They should be jailed for their anti-national comments,” he said. JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav said he has already given the notice to Speaker Meira Kumar. “We have appealed to the speaker. She is the custodian of the house. People should speak within limits while talking about the MPs and about Parliament,” he said. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/E4HYV Tags: Corruption, India Section: Latest News, South Asia
