Anna, Sarabhai exchange letters over the Modi controversy

Ahmedabad:  Anna Hazare's hunger strike and campaign for 'India Against Corruption' helped the country shake off its inertia. Lakhs of Indians across the world backed Mr Hazare's movement which forced the government to immediately begin work on a tough new law to combat corruption. Mr Hazare's demand - that the bill be drafted not just by politicians but by representatives of civil society - was also accepted. So the committee that will draft the Jan Lokpal Bill has five ministers and five activists, including Mr Hazare.

However, some of Mr Hazare's supporters have expressed their discontent with his recent statement, where he praised the development accomplished by the Gujarat government. He also praised Nitish Kumar's government in Bihar, but it's the Narendra Modi factor in Gujarat that has irked some.

Artist-activist Mallika Sarabahi, who had participated in demonstrations in Ahmedabad to support Mr Hazare, has written a critical letter to Mr Hazare.  "We are deeply shocked by your endorsement of Narendra Modi's rural development. There has been little or no rural development in this state... the state is in terrible debt because of his largesse to industry while 21 lakh farmers wait for compensation. Your endorsement is appalling and we will be forced to distance ourselves from the Lokpal movement unless it is irrevocably retracted."
Mr Hazare, who has already clarified that his praise was limited to Narendra Modi's rural development, has written back to Ms Sarabhai. "I praised only the developmental work done by Shri Narendra Modi and Shri Nitish Kumar in rural areas. Alongside I clarified that I am equally opposed to any form of communal disharmony."

This afternoon, Mr Hazare will appeal to his supporters and activists to avoid distractions from their campaign for the Lokpal Bill. He is also likely to address the Modi controversy.