Digvijay Singh slams Anna for 'slap the corrupt' remark

Lucknow: Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh on Wednesday hit out at Anna Hazare over his latest slapping remark, and underscored that he always considered the veteran social activist as 'Gandhivaadi', but his comments of favouring violence reflects he is getting influenced by the Sangh Parivar and opposition who have a history of supporting violence.

"This is the result of him being in the company of the RSS and the BJP. Annaji has lost respect in my eyes," Singh told the media here.

Meanwhile, another Congress leader Pramod Tiwari echoing similar sentiments said Hazare has hurt the sentiments of Indians through his violent language.

"I looked up to him as a Gandhian, but his image has gone down. He is using violent language. He has hurt the sentiments of Indians," said Tiwari.

Hazare, 74, had earlier on Tuesday evening said a person is left with no option other than to slap when his power of tolerance of corruption runs out.

"When a man's power of tolerance runs out, then whoever is in front of you, if a slap is given, then the brain is put back in place. That is the only road open now," he told the media at his native village Ralegan Siddhi after watching the forthcoming Hindi flick 'Gali Gali Chor Hai', which is based on the common man's fight against corruption.

On November 24 last year, Hazare had sparked a row by appearing to approve of the slapping of Union Minister Sharad Pawar by a youth in Delhi.

He had, however, later condemned the attack on Pawar.