Anna Hazare is mad and sports Taliban mindset: CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta

NEW DELHI: Anna Hazare's prescription of public flogging of alcoholics has outraged the political class with CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta calling the Gandhian "mad".

Reacting to news reports from Hazare's village Ralegan Siddhi stating that alcoholics should be shamed publically, Dasgupta said, "He is mad. I do not drink but that does not mean those who do should be treated like this. It is Taliban mindset. Anna is moving away from his core work."

Congress, at the receiving hand of Hazare's fight against corruption, also lost no opportunity in condemning his directive. Party spokesperson Rashid Alvi said, "Such mindset would only end up weakening democracy. Provoking anyone to take law into one's own hand is unconstitutional and against the democratic principles," he said.

RJD leader Lalu Prasad said, "Anna is a Gandhian but this is no way to deal with those who drink."

BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said, "Everyone has a right to express his views. But the country can run only on the basis of constitutional provisions."