Sonia to Hazare: I do not support smear campaign

Amid growing discontent between government representatives and civil society members, Congress president Sonia Gandhi today responded to Anna Hazare’s letter saying she does not support smear campaigns. Gandhi reiterated her support for the institution of Lokpal, for which Hazare had led a group of activists recently, finally forcing the government to form a joint committee for drafting the Bill.

Within 48 hours of Hazare’s letter accusing her “colleagues” of trying to derail the Lokpal process, Gandhi shot back, saying the noted social activist “should not doubt” her “commitment to the fight for probity in public life”.

The Congress chief and Chairperson of the National Advisory Council (NAC) said there was “urgent necessity to combat graft and corruption”.

Gandhi also pointed out to Hazare that the NAC, under her leadership, will be discussing the issue of the Bill. NAC has already constituted a working group and is likely to take some decisions in the next meeting of the council on April 28, Gandhi added.

“As for the statements appearing in the media, let me assure you that I do not support nor encourage the politics of smear campaigns,” Gandhi wrote.

“Let me reiterate what I wrote to you earlier, that I believe there was an urgent necessity to combat graft and corruption. You should have no doubt about my commitment in the fight for probity in public life. I strongly support the institution of a Lokpal that is consistent with the practices and conventions of our Parliamentary democracy.”

Top Congress sources suggested that Gandhi consulted some of her trusted lieutenants before replying to Hazare. The Congress president chose not to be on the defensive and make her position clear while the civil society versus the political class tussle gained momentum.

Hazare had shot a letter to Gandhi targeting Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh and Union minister Kapil Sibal for allegedly trying to derail the Lokpal formation process.

Rejecting the charges of Hazare, Gandhi wrote that the NAC’s working group on transparency, accountability and governance, headed by Aruna Roy, had already held consultations with civil society representatives earlier this month. She said Shanti Bhushan, Santosh Hegde and Prashant Bhushan – the three members of Hazare’s team – were also part of these consultations.

“This is the very course that the NAC was following until the process was, as you know, overtaken by the subsequent events.”

While Gandhi addressed Hazare’s concerns, the Congress party maintained it would not impose any gag order on party leaders against the civil society members.