A day after BJP veteran LK Advani took swipes at Anna Hazare for painting all politicians with the same brush as corrupt, the former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh on Wednesday raised doubts over the campaign spearheaded by the Gandhian crusader.
Singh who was in Nagpur on Wednesday to campaign for the separate state of Vidarbha, said, "Clearly Hazare's campaign is selective. It targets only politicians. It does not focus on other sections like bureaucrats, judges and even top journalists, who have amassed wealth."
"Hazare has singled out NCP chief Sharad Pawar. But one should remember that Pawar has created Baramati as a development model. There are several others in bureaucracy, judiciary and journalism who have made money but gave back nothing to society," pointed out Singh.
"Mahatma Gandhi was candid enough to say openly that he had financial backing from some industrial houses. Now Hazare, who claims to be Gandhi's follower, should tell the world who is supporting him."
He expressed his doubts about Hazare's priorities and his campaign's success. "The Lokpal Bill will have absolutely no impact. What the country needs first is a law for state funding of elections. Hazare should have taken up that issue first. Unless and until that law comes into existence, ending political corruption will be nothing but a pipe dream as corporate houses and persons with vested interest will continue funding politicians for selfish gains," said Singh who was on a day's visit to the city.
The former SP leader also questioned inclusion of legal expert father-son duo Shanti Bhushan and Prashant Bhushan in the 10-member committee to draft the Lokpal Bill. "Why was Ram Jethmalani's name not considered", he asked stressing the latter had a strong track record of fighting corruption and taking up the issue of bringing back Indians' black money stashed abroad.
{{/usCountry}}The former SP leader also questioned inclusion of legal expert father-son duo Shanti Bhushan and Prashant Bhushan in the 10-member committee to draft the Lokpal Bill. "Why was Ram Jethmalani's name not considered", he asked stressing the latter had a strong track record of fighting corruption and taking up the issue of bringing back Indians' black money stashed abroad.
{{/usCountry}}Supporting the demand for a separate Vidarbha state, Singh also questioned why Hazare never took up a campaign to fight for the cause of dying farmers. "Will Hazare take up fast to force the government to check the unending suicides of farmers in Vidarbha?" he asked.
Singh would launch a 'rathyatra' from Shegaon to Sewagram for the cause of separate Vidarbha next month.
Two days ago, the former Lok Sabha member and the RPI leader Ramdas Athavale had pointed out in Nagpur that even Jaiprakash Narayan, who was instrumental in leading a political revolution of sorts in 1974 could do little to end corruption in the country.