The indefinite fast started here by Magsaysay winner Anna Hazare for a strong anti-corruption Bill took an ugly turn today, with bhajan-singing activists targeting all visiting politicians, even as the UPA government today seemed ready for a compromise on the method of drafting the contentious Lok Pal Bill.
Hazare and his followers made it clear today that politicians of no party were welcome at the site of the fast, following speculation yesterday that the agitation was being sponsored by the Opposition to embarrass the Government.
The first victim of this anti-politician face of the protest was ex-Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala, who arrived in his car at the venue and walked towards the dais, only to be surrounded by an angry slogan-shouting mob, which forced him to leave the place in humiliation.
The second victim was ex-MP chief minister Uma Bharti, who also had to leave, red-faced, after the mob gathered around her and hooted her out of the place.
Hazare asked his followers to show restraint but no one seemed to pay attention. However, he also said that politicians would not be allowed on the dais. Another member of the group was heard saying after the Chautala episode that ‘A good message has gone from this’, happily shaking his head.
Hazare, talking to the crowd, later said no political party could be trusted and the only alternative was for like-minded people to form a party and stand in elections.
In sharp contrast to the mood today, BJP leaders Maneka Gandhi and Prakash Javadekar, and later Sharad Joshi were allowed to visit Hazare without trouble yesterday.
