New Delhi, Dec 11 (IANS): The Congress Sunday rejected Anna Hazare's token fast for a strong anti-corruption Lokpal bill, calling it an insult to parliament.
"I have no hesitation in saying that Anna is insulting parliament," Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi told reporters.
"The Lokpal bill report has been submitted. There will be debate and decision will be taken. Laws cannot be made at Jantar Mantar," he added.
Anna Hazare is on a one-day token fast at Jantar Mantar in the capital. The activists have also invited political representatives for a debate on the Lokpal bill which is not being attended by the Congress.
"A law will be passed by parliament, all should respect it. No one is bigger than parliament and constitution. The country is run by constitution, not by slogans," Alvi said.
The spokesperson called the Team Anna tactics "politics", and pointed out links with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
"He himself said he will wait till the winter session but then he went to Haryana to oppose the Congress. The debate on Lokpal is not yet over in parliament and they are staging this protest," he said.
"Anna is saying we will oppose the Congress in all five states, if not politics what is this?"
"I cannot say on whose directions they are working but the RSS has openly supported them and Anna wrote to (L.K.) Advani and said 'we are thankful for your help'," Alvi said.
Another party leader, Sanjay Nirupam, said Team Anna was trying to find ways to "bother" the Congress.
"They are finding ways to bother the Congress and the government, but the Congress is not bothered," Nirupam said on a TV channel.