Contest elections, Krishna tells Anna Hazare

Bangalore, July 31 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna on Tuesday said media does what it thinks best, and added that it has done an exemplary job in presenting facts to the people of this country.

Responding to Team Anna's attack on mediapersons at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, Krishna said one should not become judges of how the media should conduct itself.

"Media does what it thinks best. So, we are certainly not judges about how the media should conduct itself. Media has its own way of presenting facts to the people of this country and they have done an exemplary job," he said.

Krishna further said that he welcomed veteran social activist Anna Hazare's decision to contest the elections.

"A group of people, who want to bring about a qualitative change in Indian politics. Well, they need to come to a conclusion as to what are the methods that one would like to follow in order to achieve their goals. I welcome the very idea of Anna Hazare participating in the coming elections," said Krishna.

"I think that is the right royal way for the Anna group to master people's support and then take over the government. There is a level playing field in India for every political party and they will also have their say, we will also have our say. Ultimately, all of us are bound by the kind of response, the kind of support that we will be able to get," he added.

Hazare had earlier this month did not rule the emergence of a 'people's party' in 2014 Lok Sabha polls, and said it is not wrong if candidates selected by the people to fight the poll choose to do so.

Team Anna earlier today apologised for the scuffle that broke out between their supporters and mediapersons at Jantar Mantar here on Monday.

Anna Hazare said that he would end his indefinite fast if such an untoward incident took place again, and added that he regretted for all that happened with the mediapersons at his fasting venue.

Hazare's key aide Arvind Kejriwal urged the supporters to be nice to the media and to carry out the anti-graft protests in a non-violent way.

"Please be nice to these media people. Don't misbehave with them. I apologise for what happened," he said.

The apology came after the Broadcast Editors' Association (BEA) condemned the attack on the media and demanded an immediate apology.

The incident took place late last night, when Team Anna supporters had an argument with mediapersons who were covering their hunger strike.

They hurled abuses and raised anti-media slogans after Team Anna member Shanti Bhushan alleged that the media was not projecting their protest correctly.

"Media is manipulating reality here for the sake of their TRPs. Channel owners are not showing the reality," Bhushan claimed.

Hazare began his indefinite fast against corruption on Sunday by joining Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Gopal Rai, who have been fasting since July 25.

Team Anna has demanded the setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of retired judges of Supreme and High Courts, to probe charges of corruption against 15 cabinet ministers, including the Prime Minister.

They have also sought the transferring of cases against political party chiefs, which are being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to the SIT, in addition to setting up fast track courts to dispose of cases against lawmakers within six months. (ANI)