Team Anna welcomes Gujarat high court criticising Modi

In an apparent bid to fight the pro-BJP tag, Team Anna on Thursday welcomed the Gujarat high court judgement rapping chief minister Narendra Modi for "stonewalling" appointment of the Lokayukta.

In an apparent bid to fight the pro-BJP tag, Team Anna on Thursday welcomed the Gujarat high court judgement rapping chief minister Narendra Modi for "stonewalling" appointment of the Lokayukta.

"It is unfortunate that the Gujarat government did not appoint a lokayukta for so long and the government is still resisting the appointment of a lokayukta who has been selected by the chief justice of the high court," the Team said in a statement.

"It shows that the Gujarat government will be willing to appoint a lokayukta if it is selected by them," it said.

It said the judgement is based on the existing Gujarat Lokayukta Act, which it felt is flawed.

"The law is weak, ineffective and the process of appointment is non-participatory and intransparent," they said.

However, they were in praise for Uttarakhand chief minister BC Khanduri for enacting a "very strong" Lokayukta law. Incidentally, Team Anna will be in Uttarakhand next week to "educate" people on the Lokpal bill and stands of various parties ahead of the Assembly polls there.

"Rather than resist the appointment of the new Lokayukta, it would be useful if Gujarat government enacted a new Lokayukta Act on the lines of Uttarakhand Lokayukta Act," it said.

Anna Hazare had landed in controversy earlier for praising Modi and had to retract it later.

Team Anna also faced criticism for its anti-Congress stand during its campaign for a strong Lokpal Bill and detractors had tried to classify them as pro-BJP.

As criticism mounted and Hazare's Mumbai protest flopped, the Team decided to tone down their attacks on Congress and not to target any single party.