Anna Hazare's comments that a person has no option but to slap the corrupt when he runs out of tolerance and patience has stoked a fresh controversy. Hazare's comments have come in for sharp criticism from the political class with several leaders condemning it.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Samajwadi Party and the Congress came out against Hazare's comment, saying that there are better ways to fight corruption than instigating violence.
"There is no need to use five fingers. Use just one finger and press a button to slap corruption. In democracy vote is the most powerful tool to fight corruption," said BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain.
Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan said that Team Anna had deviated from its path.
"Anna is talking of a slap. Next Team Anna will talk about bullets. When the team commander talks about violence, the team will do even worse," said Khan.
Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh said that Hazare's comments show that he was being influenced by the Sangh Parivar.
"After this statement, my respect towards him has lessened. I always took him as a Gandhiwadi, but the way he is talking about violent behaviour; my respect towards him has lessened. I think it is a result of keeping the company of the Sangh," said the Congress leader.
Hazare, who made the comment on Tuesday at his village Ralegan Siddhi after watching the Hindi film 'Gali Gali Chor Hai', has for the second time condoned slapping and violence in the fight against corruption.
In November 2011, he had sparked a row by trying to approve of the slapping of Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar by a youth in Delhi.
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