Mahatma Gandhi's followers flay Anna's 'slap' remark

Ahmedabad, Jan 25 (ANI): Followers of Mahatma Gandhi on Wednesday expressed their anguish over veteran social activist Anna Hazare's remark that a person has no option but to slap the corrupt when he runs out of tolerance and patience.

The President of Gandhi Sena- an association of Mahatma Gandhi's followers, Dhimant Badhia, criticized Hazare, saying that by merely being dressed like Mahatma Gandhi, a person could not claim to be his follower.

He further said that a person needs to follow on the path of non-violence, peace and harmony to be called a true Gandhian.

"The work that is being done by Annaji is without completely understanding the ideologies of Gandhiji (Mahatma Gandhi). If he (Anna) had understood the ideology of Gandhiji, then he would have not given such statements. Though he (Anna Hazare) often visits Rajghat (Mahatma Gandhi's memorial in New Delhi), takes Bapu's name and talks about following the path shown by Bapu. Now, I personally believe that whatever he said was wrong," Badhia told reporters here.

"I think he is following the ideology of some association that against the country. Just by wearing a Gandhian cap and khadi kurta, one does not imbibe Gandhian ideology, and there is need to understand it as well," he added.

Veteran Gandhian Chunni Bhai Vaidh said Hazare and his close associate Arvind Kejriwal were covertly working for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the radical Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

"It is quite visible that both of them are tilted towards them that's why there are known as anti-Congress now. It is clearly visible that they are anti-Congress party," said Vaidh.

Mastan Valli, a visitor at the Sabarmati Ashram here, said that slapping would not help to resolve any problem.

"It's his anger which he expressed through his words. However, if every individual start slapping each other then there is no end to it and it is not even a solution," said Valli.

Hazare, 74, had on Tuesday evening said: "When a man's power of tolerance runs out, then whoever is in front of you, if a slap is given, then the brain is put back in place. That is the only road open now."

He told the media at his native village Ralegan Siddhi after watching the forthcoming Hindi flick 'Gali Gali Chor Hai', which is based on the common man's fight against corruption.

The film is directed by Rumi Jaffrey and casts Bollywood actors Akshaye Khanna, Shriya Saran and Mugdha Godse. (ANI)