“The Anna movement had the covert support of the BJP-RSS”—Sonia’s book raises questions about Anna Hazare; Anna responds: “Neither Congress nor the BJP…”

“The Anna movement had the covert support of the BJP-RSS”—Sonia’s book raises questions about Anna Hazare; Anna responds: “Neither Congress nor the BJP…”

Sonia Gandhi’s book, *Belonging: A Journey of Love*, has become a subject of discussion. Among these discussions, the ‘India Against Corruption’ movement—led by Anna Hazare in 2012—is also mentioned. In the book, Sonia Gandhi describes the movement as one that had the covert support of the BJP and the RSS. According to the book, the true objective of the movement was not to fight corruption, but to oust the UPA government from power. The book states: “In 2011, Baburao ‘Anna’ Hazare, a well-known social activist from Maharashtra, emerged as the face of a movement that called itself ‘India Against Corruption.’ Some key figures associated with the movement later claimed that it had the covert support of the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Anna Hazare was brought to Delhi with great fanfare and publicity, where he began a hunger strike. His demand was for the appointment of a Lokpal—an independent oversight body with extensive powers. However, after the BJP came to power, the Lokpal system became ineffective.” Following these remarks in Sonia Gandhi’s book, Anna Hazare has now issued a response.