MUMBAI: Veteran social activist Anna Hazare has rejected Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s claims that his 2011 anti-corruption movement was secretly backed by the BJP and RSS to overthrow the UPA government.
Hazare denied political affiliations, asserting that his priorities were society and the nation. He also criticised Gandhi for making unsubstantiated remarks without personal knowledge of him.
“A responsible person must speak responsibly; otherwise, one loses their credibility. I have no relation or association with any party or political front. My country is my priority. Whatever I do, I do it for the welfare of the country and society,” Hazare said at Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district on Wednesday.
His remarks came while responding to allegations made by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi in her newly released autobiography, ‘Belonging: A Journey of Love,’ where she alleged that his 2011 anti-corruption movement in Delhi was covertly supported by the RSS and the BJP. The movement played a large role in the downfall of the UPA Government in the 2014 general elections.
“In 2012 a well-known activist from Maharashtra, Baburao ‘Anna’ Hazare, emerged as the figurehead of a movement that titled itself ‘India Against Corruption.’ Some of its prominent participants have stated since that it was covertly organised and supported by the BJP and RSS,” a viral excerpt from the memoir reads.
Emphasising that he had nothing to do with BJP or Congress, Hazare said, “Be it Congress or BJP, I have nothing to do with them. What is the basis to claim that the Manmohan Singh-led government lost the (2014) elections due to my agitation?” he asked.
BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye also slammed Gandhi saying the book is not soul-searching, but rather an attempt to improve one’s own image and cover up inconvenient questions.
“She (Gandhi) has expressed sorrow over Babri demolitions because political convenience can be served through it; but why is she silent on Bofors? Why no clear stance on the claims by Congress leaders that they were moved to tears after the Batla House encounter? She says her stance in the Shah Bano case was different. Then why didn’t that stance reflect in actions when she served as the chairperson of the National Advisory Council during Manmohan Singh’s tenure?”
Upadhaye said Gandhi has admitted in the book that the Emergency was unconstitutional. “Then who will answer as to who was controlling power from behind the scenes during Manmohan Singh’s tenure?” he added.
“The mistakes are others, the responsibility is others… but the monopoly on morality is entirely ours! No matter how much one tries to brighten their image through an autobiography, questions in history cannot be erased. History does not want self-praise; it wants honest answers,” Upadhye said.
However, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve backed Gandhi’s statement, saying Hazare was used as a front by the BJP to create anarchy in the country. “It was a conspiracy to create anarchy in the country by putting Anna Hazare forward. Anna Hazare did not speak on any issues afterward, so it raises the question of whether someone else was making him speak through a proxy,” Danve said.
NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar termed Sonia Gandhi a sensitive, resilient, and courageous individual.
“At the age of just 21, she left behind her home, her loved ones and everything familiar in Italy to begin a new chapter in India. She embraced this country and made it her own. However, her journey was marked by two devastating personal tragedies – the loss of Indira ji in 1984 and Rajiv ji in 1991. Despite enduring such profound personal losses, she chose not to leave India and return to her homeland. Instead, she strengthened her bond with this country and devoted herself to public life and service,” Pawar said, adding that her determination to stand firm in the face of immense adversity is truly inspiring.
Pawar recalled an occasion this year when he could experience her compassion and sensitivity. “When I met her in Parliament to seek her support for an impartial investigation into Ajit Dada’s tragic plane crash, she did more than simply listen to our concerns. She understood our pain as though we were members of her own family and extended her firm support to our demand. That meeting reaffirmed my belief that someone who has endured similar personal tragedies can truly understand another person’s pain with such profound empathy and sensitivity,” he said.
“Respected Sonia ji’s life journey is not merely the story of an individual’s struggles; it is also a reflection of India’s liberal, inclusive and compassionate ethos — a culture that embraces humanity above all else,” Pawar said.
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