Anna’s defeat Cong call half-baked: Party

“While making a statement that they should not vote for the Congress candidate,he should have also told the public whom to vote for. If Hazare’s idea of an honest alternative to Congress is the Chautalas and the Bishnois,then Hazare would be promoting corruption in the garb of ending it,” he said.

“Hazare should clearly point out his choice of candidate. Anna is fighting for the right to recall and reject a candidate. Why did he not appeal to the electorate to reject all corrupt candidates? By saying don’t vote for the Congress lays bare the fact that he is working for the BJP. The BJP has outsourced its job of destabilising the nation to Anna,” Hariprasad said.

“Such statements will not have any impact on voters. Hisar voter knows who is corrupt and who is clean. I agree with Anna when he says that a corrupt candidate should not be voted for. But to say not to vote for just the Congress candidate is unacceptable,” said state party president Phool Chand Mullana.

Though the INLD welcomed Anna’s statement,Om Prakash Chautala was among the politicians heckled by the crowd and not allowed to meet Anna during his April fast. Anna’s supporters had objected to Chautala ‘s visit on the grounds that Chautala along with his sons,is facing a CBI chargesheet in disproportionate assets cases.

Moreover,they alleged that Chautala as the chief minister had abolished the office of Lokayukta to get rid of an honest Lokayukta.

The Haryana Janhit Congress-BJP combine candidate Kuldeep Bishnoi,too,welcomed Anna’s appeal. Addressing a gathering in Uklana,Bishnoi said: “Congress and the INLD are steeped in corruption. Anna’s statement is a welcome step.”

During Anna’s fast in August,Bishnoi had written to Hazare offering support in his drive against corruption.