Manish Tewari recuses himself from Parliament Panel on Lokpal

New Delhi Aug 25 (PTI) Congress spokesperson Manish
Tewari, who had kicked up a controversy by accusing activist
Anna Hazare of corruption but later apologised, has recused
himself from Parliament's Standing Committee that is going
into Lokpal (anti-corruption ombudsman) issue.
"I am all for a strong and effective Lokpal. I do not
want any controversy to cast a shadow on the deliberations of
this important bill. I, therefore, recuse myself from the
Standing Committee," Tewari told PTI on Wednesday.
At the outset, he said, he had seen speculation in the
press with regard to his continuance as a member of the
Standing Committee on Law and Justice. The next meeting of the
Committee is scheduled to take place on September 7.
Two days before Hazare was due to commence his fast in
Delhi on August 16, the activist was targeted by the Congress
spokesperson for the first time when Tewari cited Sawant
Commission report and accused him of being "steeped in
corruption from head to toe".
A few days back, Tewari, however, apologised for
levelling allegations against Hazare and appealed to the
Gandhian to call off his 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 Tewari in a Pune court next week.
"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...In the course
of political cut and thrust, certain things are inadvertently
said which cause pain," he had said.
Tewari, while going ballistic against Hazare, had
earlier also said that Team Anna comprised "armchair fascists,
overground Maoists, closet anarchists funded by invisible
donors". Tewari's comments had evoked strong reactions from
Hazare's supporters.