Author: PTI
Publication: The Times of India
Date: August 26, 2011
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Notwithstanding-regret-Anna-counsel-to-drag-Manish-Tewari-to-court/articleshow/9734881.cms
Congress party spokesperson Manish Tewari
on Thursday apologised for levelling allegations against Anna Hazare that
he was corrupt and appealed to the Gandhian to call off his 10-day fast.
But the apology by the Congress MP from Punjab
did not cut much ice with Hazare since the anti-corruption crusader's lawyer
Milind Pawar said a case of defamation would be filed against him in a Pune
court next week.
Two days before Hazare was due to begin his
fast in Delhi on August 16, the activist was targeted by Congress for the
first time when Tewari cited the Sawant Commission report and accused him
of being "steeped in corruption from head to toe".
"I know some of my recent utterances
have caused hurt to Mr Hazare. I regret the same and I would like to appeal
to him as a citizen of this country to end his fast," Tewari said in
Delhi.
"In the course of political cut and
thrust, certain things are inadvertantly said which cause pain," he said.
Tewari while going ballistic against Hazare
said "the Sawant Commission ripped apart the moral core of Hazare as
it found him steeped in corruption from head to toe."
He had also alleged that Team Anna comprised
"armchair fascists, overground Maoists, closet anarchists funded by invisible
donors".
Pawar said that notwithstanding the regret
expressed by Tiwari a defamation case will be filed against him.
"We will file a case against Manish
Tewari under IPC Section 500 for the defamatory remarks made by him against
Hazare on August 14, describing him as a corrupt person at a public forum,"
he said in Pune
Pawar, who returned to the city from Delhi
last night, said Hazare's secretary had given him the go ahead for filing
the criminal complaint against Tiwari.
Tewari's comments had evoked strong reactions
from the Hazare's supporters.
Asked why the matter was being pressed by
the Hazare camp even after Tewari publicly expressed regret for his remarks,
the lawyer said the acceptance of guilt on his part did not mean that he should
go unpunished for his "insolent" utterances against the veteran
social activist.
