Asserting that nobody can hold the government to ransom, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said, "We have always said that these people seemed inspired by politics. It is good that whatever the intention was has come out clear. Many of the stances they took seem to suggest this. I am glad that they have gone ahead."
Her reaction came after Anna Hazare announced that he will give support for a political alternative in the country.
Soni also said that if Team Anna enter politics, "then they will themselves understand, the compulsions, responsibilities of politics, how much you have to work in politics and especially that if we work honestly in politics, it is not easy."
Soni said that it was not correct for anyone to use defamatory language against MPs or anyone holding constitutional position.
The Minister said that it was everyone's right to enter public life and Team Anna should go ahead and contest elections if they wanted to change the system.
"Everyone has right to enter politics and fight elections. If they think that every member of parliament has a bad reputation (I don't want to use the words they had used) then they themselves should fight to become a member of Parliament," Soni told reporters here.
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Soni also said that she was happy that the fast had been called off and that it was not proper that a democratically elected government is held to ransom by such agitations.
"I am glad that they have agreed to call up their fast, its a good thing because things can't work under pressure in a democracy. You can't hold the government to a ransom. A government elected to office by people of the country," she said.
Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh, a bitter critic of Team Anna, also took a jibe at them, saying his opinion about their real intentions has now been confirmed.
"Just as I always said, Team Anna's political ambitions are out in open! People should see for themselves the reality behind this 'MOVEMENT'!" Singh said on his Twitter handle. MORE