BJP seeks PM's intervention to end campaign against team Anna

NEW DELHI: BJP President Nitin Gadkari today sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's intervention to put an end to the government's "sinister" campaign against Team Anna and Baba Ramdev, saying it "reminds" one of the days of the Emergency.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Gadkari rued that members of civil society had become victims of the UPA's "vindictive approach" which was "highly disturbing" and a cause of serious concern.

"Undoubtedly, law must take its own course in the cases of all those who are guilty. What disturbs all those who are committed to the principles of democracy and rule of law is the fact that law is taking its course only selectively and after dissent is articulated," he said.

"It seems a witch hunt has been unleashed against some members of Team Anna like Arvind Kejriwal and Prashant Bhushan, Baba Ramdev and his charitable institutions as well as those who acted as whistleblowers in the cash-for-vote case," the BJP chief said in the letter.

He said it was worrisome that the "strong arm tactics" and "high handed actions" of the government were vitiating the political atmosphere in the country which was dangerous for a healthy democracy.

Gadkari said the "cheap tactics" of the government were adding to the "misperceptions" about the entire political class, thereby causing a "great damage to the popular trust in democratic polity".

He said the attitude of the government reminded him of the days of the Emergency when central agencies were used against those voicing dissent against the establishment.

Gadkari sought Singh's personal intervention to rein in all agencies under his control and "put an end to the politics of vendetta".