Hisar bypoll: Team Anna begins anti-Congress campaign

**Hisar:**Team Anna today launched a blistering attack on the Congress ahead of the October 13 Lok Sabha bypoll here, asking voters to inflict a “historic” defeat on the party for not bringing the Jan Lokpal Bill.

Addressing public meetings, activists Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia also sought to clear the air on any links with the RSS. Kejriwal said Hazare twice sat on a fast for the Jan Lokpal Bill but the Congress-led UPA government was yet to bring it in Parliament.

“You will have to inflict a historic defeat on the Congress. If you defeat the party (in the bypoll), this will be Anna’s victory,” he told the gathering.

Alleging that the Congress and corruption were synonymous, Kejriwal asked people to defeat the corrupt forces.

He said if the bill is not passed soon, team Anna would intensify its campaign against the Congress in poll-bound states.

Referring to RSS chief’s remarks that Sangh volunteers took part in Hazare’s movement, Kejriwal hit back saying those trying to seek credit should take credit for Gujarat riots and corruption that rocked the Karnataka Government under the BJP Chief Minister.

The ruling Congress in Haryana said it was not perturbed by Team Anna Hazare’s campaign for the Hisar Lok Sabha bypoll.

“We are not perturbed by the campaign launched by Anna Hazare. RSS chief’s admission that Sangh volunteers took part in recent movements against corruption has exposed his (Hazare’s) lie and claims that he is non-partisan,” Haryana Congress President Phool Chand Mullana said.

“Congress governments in the state and at the Centre have taken Haryana to new heights of development. They also know now whose product (Hazare) is and who is behind him. Organisations like RSS are behind him,” Mullana said.

Appealing to voters, Team Anna member Sisodia said “vote for any party, but don’t vote for the Congress.” He said he had asked youths to fan out in villages and distribute Anna’s CDs. Yesterday, Hazare issued an appeal to the electorate through a CD asking them to defeat Congress in the bypoll.

Kejriwal and Sisodia will camp in Hisar for the next three days while activist Kiran Bedi will visit the place on Monday.

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PTI