Praise for Anna Hazare puts VS in a spot

THIRUVANATHAPURAM: VS has done it again. Heaping praise on social activist Anna Hazare has landed Achuthanandan in a spot. With Hazare's open support to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's rural development activities raising the hackles of the CPM central leadership, it may not be easy for VS to reiterate his support to Hazare. More so when the CPM has come out with a scathing criticism against Hazare for his antidemocratic utterances. The latest issue of People's Democracy (PD), the mouthpiece of the CPM in India, categorically states in its editorial that Hazare's 'utter disdain for the voter and contempt for parliamentary democracy is indeed disturbing.' Hazare had said he didn't contest the election because he was sure he would forfeit his deposit as the ordinary voters cast their vote under the influence of `100 or a bottle of liquor.

The CPM said: ''Whenever there was a challenge to India's secular democratic character, it was this very voter that upheld and safeguarded the vision of a modern India. It was this very voter that defeated Indira Gandhi's Emergency regime and reestablished democracy with such vigour that it has now become inseparable from Indian reality. It is this very democracy that provides the space for social activism and huger strikes of this nature.''

The PD editorial titled 'Contempt for Democracy Not Allowed' says: ''Without this voter, India today may not be what it is and could well have been robbed of the vibrancy that, amongst more important attributes, allows candlelight protests and hunger strikes.'' In support to Hazare's hunger strike, candle light protests were held in several places in India.

When Anna Hazare was on fast, V S Achuthanandan wrote him a letter praising his struggle. In his letter dated April 7, VS offered all support to the fight against corruption undertaken by Hazare. During his election campaign in Kochi on April 8, VS had criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for not taking steps to resolve Hazare's strike. Though the CPM also favoured Hazare's strike then, it was more as a support to the Lok Pal Bill than personal praise.