Journalism of Courage
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur were shown black flags by Anna Hazares supporters at the Golden Temple in Amritsar today.
A handful of Hazares supporters,including women,raised slogans against corruption and in favour of Lokpal as soon as Singh and his wife came out after praying at the Golden Temple.
The Prime Minister,who was on a personal visit here with his wife,arrived at the Golden Temple at 6:40 am and went to the sanctum sanctorum where they spent half-an-hour. Afterwards they went to Akal Takht,the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs,to pay obeisance.
Defending the black flag protest,Team Anna said it was a reflection of peoples demand for a strong Lokpal. Showing black flags is within the law. Hence,it is a legitimate protest, said Team Anna member Kiran Bedi.
Another Team Anna member Shazia Ilmi denied that the protesters were activists of India Against Corruption (IAC),which is spearheading the agitation demanding the enactment of a strong Lokpal law.
I dont think it was done at the behest of Team Anna but it is a reflection of what people feel and think, Ilmi told a television channel.
