OCTOBER 21, 2011 By Girish Kumar Dubey
Indian Law Minister Salman Khurshid lashed out at veteran anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare and his associate Kiran Bedi, on Friday (October 21) for campaigning against the Congress party in northern Uttar Pradesh state.
While addressing public in the holy city of the state, Varanasi, Khurshid recalled that how the Congress party leaders had in the past sacrificed their lives for the independence of the country.
Slamming the Hazare team, Khurshid said that the Congress party knew the essence of politics and the art of governance.
"People are trying to teach us the art of initiating movement but they forgot that we are the one who have the biggest rights for it because we are the one bring freedom in India by such movement, as if the students are teaching their mentors. How can someone teach us how to run a movement, now someone will teach us how to sit on hunger strike, or how to sacrifice life for the welfare and upliftment of the nation?," said Khurshid.
Hazare's protest in August had exposed the Congress party as driven by a lack of leadership, indecision and poor judgment, and this to a certain extent did help the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) rise in the opinion polls.
He ended his over 12-day fast in August, following assurances from the federal government that a strong and effective Ombudsman Bill would soon be passed in the Indian Parliament.
Perturbed by Hazare's anti-government remarks, Khurshid had defended his party's stand on his demands.
Meanwhile, he also mocked Hazare's close associate, Kiran Bedi over allegations of charging inflated rates on travel expenses from Non Government Organisations (NGO's) and other institutions.
Clearing stand over his visit to Varanasi, Khurshid said that he turned up for the event on the request of the party Chief of Uttar Pradesh state, Rita Bahuguna Joshi and also explained his other expenses during his journey through an aircraft.
"As Rita Bahuguna promised me for providing a plane and requested me to come because Provincial Governor (B L Joshi) was also attending the event so I promised for this event. I had four sandwiches and a tea on the plane. If you (reporters) want to write about it then you can. I have come here for this only. I never take ticket to save money. Whatever money I spend on a ticket, I show the same amount," said Khurshid.
On October 20, a report published in leading national English daily, Indian Express alleged Bedi of travelling in 'economy' class and charging non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other institutions that invite her for seminars and discussions, with bills of business class.
Khurshid later accused the provincial authorities of Uttar Pradesh state for not providing proper medical facilities to the hundreds of children who recently died due to encephalitis, which is a rare brain inflammation.
"Because of encephalitis, 400 children have died in Uttar Pradesh who would have been the future of the state as well as the country. When I was the party chief here, I visited the place with Rahul Gandhi. We had set a medical centre in which we provided breathing machines and other medical aides to them. If children have been vaccinated two months prior to the monsoon then these children would not have lost their lives," he added.
Encephalitis is a viral infection, caused by the consumption of contaminated food, drinking water and mosquito bites.
About 435 people, mostly children had died this year in most impoverished regions of Uttar Pradesh in the month of August and September, says a media report.
The report also says that in the year 2009, atleast 774 people were suffering from encephalitis in India, out of which about 556 were in Uttar Pradesh.
Senior leader of India's ruling Congress party Salman Khurshid, who is also the present law minister of the country lashes out at veteran anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare and his associate Kiran Bedi, during a public meet in northern Uttar Pradesh state.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL
VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH INDIA (OCTOBER 21, 2011) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)
1. SALMAN KHURSHID, SENIOR LEADER OF RULING CONGRESS PARTY AND FEDERAL LAW MINISTER, SITTING WITH OTHER MEMBERS
2. KHURSHID SITTING WITH RITA BAHUGUNA JOSHI, CONGRESS PARTY CHIEF IN UTTAR PRADESH STATE
3. CONGRESS PARTY LEADERS SITTING ON A STAGE
4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SALMAN KHURSHID, INDIAN LAW MINISTER, SAYING:
"People are trying to teach us the art of initiating movement but they forgot that we are the one who have the biggest rights for it because we are the one bring freedom in India by such movement, as if the students are teaching their mentors. How can someone teach us how to run a movement, now someone will teach us how to sit on hunger strike, or how to sacrifice life for the welfare and upliftment of the nation?"
5. KHURSHID ADDRESSING THE AUDIENCE
6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SALMAN KHURSHID, INDIAN LAW MINISTER, SAYING:
"As Rita Bahuguna promised me for providing a plane and requested me to come because Provincial Governor (B L Joshi) was also attending the event so I promised for this event. I had four sandwiches and a tea on the plane. If you (reporters) want to write about it then you can. I have come here for this only. I never take ticket to save money. Whatever money I spend on a ticket, I show the same amount."
7. CONGRESS PARTY LEADERS SITTING ON STAGE
8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SALMAN KHURSHID, INDIAN LAW MINISTER, SAYING:
"Because of encephalitis, 400 children have died in Uttar Pradesh who would have been the future of the state as well as the country. When I was the party chief here, I visited the place with Rahul Gandhi. We had set a medical centre in which we provided breathing machines and other medical aides to them. If children have been vaccinated two months prior to the monsoon then these children would not have lost their lives."
9. KHURSHID STANDING ON STAGE WITH PARTY MEMBERS
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