Congress hits out at opposition for attending Anna Hazare's Lokpal debate

NEW DELHI: On the eve of the all-party meeting on the Lokpal issue, Congress today made a scathing attack on opposition parties, accusing them of seeking "approval and approbation from extra-constitutional elements" by participating in Team Anna's debate at Jantar Mantar.

"Show your own spine. Do not rely on others", was the message of Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi to the main opposition BJP whom he charged with "riding piggyback on Anna Hazare's bandwagon".

Taking strong exception to the opposition sharing dais with Hazare and his team, Singhvi said that by seeking "approval and approbation" from Team Anna, "you are admitting your non-representative character".

The opposition action was fraught with "grave and irreversible adverse consequences on Parliamentary democracy" as a "non-elected, non-representative outfit" was attempting to make Parliament superfluous and redundant, he contended.

Singhvi, who is also Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Lokpal bill, said the opposition's action was "totally self serving act of bypassing Parliamentary process".

Singling out the BJP for attack, Singhvi said that in its "haste and greed" for power it was utilising Hazare, as the anti-corruption yatra as also bringing a "duplicate" Jan Lokpal bill in one of the states ruled by it did not raise its political stock.

"Whether you have power or not. Get it or lose it on your own. Show your own spine. Do not lean on others...Do not do it merely because you are in the opposition. These are wrong precedents and precepts...which will bite you ferociously tomorrow," he told the BJP.