Team Anna today found itself in the midst of another controversy as political parties reacted angrily to Arvind Kejriwal's statement that "robbers, murderers and rapists" have entered Parliament. However, Kejriwal stood his ground, saying he hadn't said anything wrong.

The Congress called his statement "intemperate" and not deserving of a response, the BJP said it showed Team Anna's "arrogance", the RJD said Kejriwal had "lost his mental balance" while the CPI felt it was "a wild expression of a disappointed person".

Speaking at a voter awareness programme on Saturday, Kejriwal said: "All types of elements have entered Parliament, including robbers, murderers and rapists... 162 members have cases of heinous offences against them... How can you expect the Jan Lokpal Bill to be passed by Parliament? How can you expect a reprieve from poverty and corruption?"

When Team Anna raises this issue, Kejriwal added, it is accused of not having faith in Parliament. "Do we have the faith that murderers, kidnappers, corrupt and those who watch blue films would free this country from starvation, repression and injustice?"

In a written statement today, Kejriwal defended his remarks, listing "facts": Of the 162 MPs against whom criminal cases are registered, 14 face charges of murder, 11 of cheating and 13 of abduction; five candidates in the current Uttar Pradesh elections have charges of rape against them; and charges of corruption have been slapped on a number of MPs.

Describing Parliament and Assemblies as "sacred temples," he said "these have been polluted by those who watch blue films while seated in the Vidhan Sabha."

The RJD said it would bring a privilege notice against Kejriwal during the Budget Session. Lok Janshakti Party President Ram Vilas Paswan also criticised the remarks as "an attack on democracy".

To contest, learn religion for 4 yrs: Anna to politicos

Pune: While he defended his colleague Arvind Kejriwal, Anna Hazare himself courted controversy on Sunday by saying that to seek votes one needs to first undergo four years of "rigorous religious training".

Talking to reporters at Vadjira, a village close to Ralegan Siddhi, Anna declared: "Political parties should not give party ticket to anybody till he has completed four years of religious training. If the candidate is a Hindu, he should spend four years learning the religion at holy places like Alandi, a Muslim should be made to study Quran for four years, and Christians and Sikhs should spend time studying the Bible and Guru Granth Sahib," Hazare said, elaborating what kind of candidates people should vote for.

Hazare criticised Congress president Sonia Gandhi for announcing at a rally in Panaji on Saturday that her party was determined to bring an effective Lokpal. "If they are so determined, then why did it need a people's movement to bring the Bill in Parliament? Why wasn't it brought earlier?," he asked.

He defended Kejriwal, who had called parliamentarians 'rapists, murderers'. "I don't think he said that. He must have only criticised politicians," said Hazare.

Atikh Rashid

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