Anna Hazare campaign for strong Lokpal Bill not to impact Congress prospects in polls: A K Antony

THRISSUR: The anti-corruption campaign led by Anna Hazare would not adversely impact Congress prospects in five poll bound states, senior party leader A K Antony today said.

Asked if Team Anna's activities would be a 'threat' to the Congress in the coming Assembly polls in the five States, Antony said Congress has mass public support in the country and Hazare's activities would not adversely affect the election prospects of the Congress, he told reporters here.

Antony, who is Defence Minister, ruled out the possibility of any foreign powers behind the anti-corruption campaign. India had gone through more critical stages after independence and no foreign power could sabotage the country's democracy, he said.

Answering a query, Antony said he did not think any foreign power could undermine democracy and secularism in the country.

Referring to the severe criticism of UPA government by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Antony said that was the CAG's duty not to 'give clean chit' to the Government. CAG's duty was to critically examine the activities of Government, he said.

The CAG report would be placed before the Public Accounts Committee of the Lok Sabha for scrutiny and then appropriate action would be taken on the concerned areas, Antony added.

Antony later called on ailing writer and literary critic Sukumar Azhikode, who is undergoing treatment at a nearby Hospital.