AAP trying to 'hijack' Anna Hazare agitation: BJP

NEW DELHI: BJP today accused Aam Aadmi Party of trying to "hijack" Anna Hazare's agitation on Janlokpal Bill after the activist asked AAP leader Gopal Rai to leave his village when he interrupted former army chief V K Singh's speech at a function.

Party spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also ridiculed suggestions that BJP may offer support to AAP for forming government in Delhi, saying it was irrational to think so at a time when AAP is claiming that it will stop Narendra Modi from becoming prime minister.

He said BJP salutes the agitation of Hazare and condemned AAP for its attempt to "hijack" his agitation.

"The whole country is watching what they (AAP) are doing. We condemn it," he said.

Hazare's rebuke of Rai came after the latter objected to former army chief Gen (retd) V K Singh's dig at AAP. Singh had said the movement against corruption should not split and there are some who think they are bigger than Hazare, inviting strong response from Rai, who was at the venue.

"Why are you interrupting him? If you want to create a ruckus, you can go out," Hazare told Rai.

"It is not right to interrupt when someone is speaking," he added.

Anna is on an indefinite fast since Tuesday at his village Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra.

Naqvi said his party was in complete support of Lokpal Bill and blamed the Congress-led government for putting the bill on the backburner.

He also skirted the issue of his party's stand on the Supreme Court judgement on Section 377, which upheld penal provision against homosexuality, and claimed that BJP would take a stand once the government finalises its response to the SC's decision.

"Let the government make its stand clear. Then we will share our views," he said. PTI KR RT 12131541 NNNN