Four-year prison sentence for ex-BJP chief Laxman insufficient: Hazare

Ralegan Siddhi, Apr 30 (AN): Veteran social activist Anna Hazare has said the four-year prison sentence given to former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Bangaru Laxman on charges of bribery is to feeble to strike fear in the hearts of all corrupt politicians.

Talking to media here, Hazare said that he did not want to comment on a court judgement, but added that it was important to set an example by handing out severe sentences to influential people who were corrupt.

"Four years is too less. Only a substantial sentence would create fear in the minds of the culprits against corruption. A person on a strong or influential position should be punished sternly. Only then they would fear the law," Hazare added.

Laxman was sentenced to four years imprisonment and fined Rs. one lakh in connection with the fictitious arms deal case on Saturday.

He was earlier convicted for accepting a bribe from a fake arms dealer in exchange for recommending to the Defence Ministry a request to award the dealers a contract to supply thermal binoculars to the army.

Laxman, a former minister, was convicted on the basis of an on camera sting operation at the BJP headquarters.

He had to quit as BJP president shortly after the sting operation was exposed. (ANI)