Chief minister Sheila Dikshit was pressed in the election campaign for Hisar bypoll in Haryana by the Congress party on Monday to help party nominee Jai Prakash. Ms Dikshit was sent by the Congress high command just after social activist Anna Hazare and his team held a rally and launched a campaign against the Congress on the issue of a strong Lokpal.
The chief minister went on a damage control exercise for the Congress candidate in Hisar.
Accusing Team Anna for its biased anti-Congress campaign, Ms Dikshit said the civil society members must see the state of affairs in the states led by the BJP.
“Any anti-Congress campaign will not affect Congress voters in Hisar. I want to ask the civil society members why do they always see corruption in Congress-led states, even when if we see any sign of corruption in Congress-led states, we immediately take action against the culprits. Why the states led by the BJP and its allies, like Gujarat, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh are not on the target of the civil society members,” Ms Dikshit said, speaking to reporters at Hisar.
Ms Dikshit went to Hisar on a road trip and returned on Monday evening after taking part in the election campaign.
Recently, Team Anna launched a campaign against the Congress party accusing it of not being sincere about bringing in a strong Lokpal to combat corruption.
The 74-year-old Gandhian has threatened to campaign against the party during the Assembly polls in five states next year if the Congress fails to table the Jan Lokpal Bill in Parliament during its winter session.
As the date for the bypolls draws closer in Hisar, the Congress is bringing its heavy artillery to counter Team Anna’s campaign.
Party bigshots, including chief minister Sheila Dikshit, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Union minister for culture, housing and urban poverty Kumari Selja addressed the rally at Hisar.
Almost all these senior leaders were heard clarifying and countering Anna Hazare on the issue of corruption.