Manish Tewari apologises in writing, Anna Hazare closes case
Congress MP and spokesman Manish Tewari, who took his party's distaste for anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare to the public by branding him 'corrupt,' has tendered a written apology to Hazare.
Following the written apology, Hazare's lawyer Milind Pawar said in Pune that the activist asked him to treat the matter as closed. "In the wake of the written apology by Tiwari, Annaji has asked me to close the matter," Pawar told a news agency. Pawar had on September 8 slapped Tewari with a legal notice for defamation.
In the written communication addressed to Hazare, a copy of which was released by Pawar, Tewari said that he had already expressed his regrets on the issue on August 25, while urging the anti-corruption crusader to withdraw his fast at Ramlila Maidan.
"I do not stand on any prestige or ego, especially when it comes to giving due regard and respect to people elder to me in age. In all sincerity, I reiterate my regrets," Tewari said. "I do not wish to give legal responses or want this matter to be prolonged. I hope you would treat the matter as closed," he added.
Before Hazare launched his indefinite fast from August 16, Tewari had said, "Anna is involved in several cases of corruption. This has been proved by the apex court appointed Justice Sawant Commission. The commission found that Anna runs several NGOs and money was spent illegally for his birthday celebration," Tewari had alleged.
The Congress spokesperson came under attack from the Opposition and civil society for his intemperate remarks against Hazare. Tewari later apologised to Anna and even wrote to the Lok Sabha Speaker asking her to keep him out of the Standing Committee vetting the Lokpal Bill.
Congress MP and spokesman Manish Tewari, who took his party's distaste for anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare to the public by branding him 'corrupt,' has tendered a written apology to Hazare.
Following the written apology, Hazare's lawyer Milind Pawar said in Pune that the activist asked him to treat the matter as closed. "In the wake of the written apology by Tiwari, Annaji has asked me to close the matter," Pawar told a news agency. Pawar had on September 8 slapped Tewari with a legal notice for defamation.
In the written communication addressed to Hazare, a copy of which was released by Pawar, Tewari said that he had already expressed his regrets on the issue on August 25, while urging the anti-corruption crusader to withdraw his fast at Ramlila Maidan.
"I do not stand on any prestige or ego, especially when it comes to giving due regard and respect to people elder to me in age. In all sincerity, I reiterate my regrets," Tewari said. "I do not wish to give legal responses or want this matter to be prolonged. I hope you would treat the matter as closed," he added.
Before Hazare launched his indefinite fast from August 16, Tewari had said, "Anna is involved in several cases of corruption. This has been proved by the apex court appointed Justice Sawant Commission. The commission found that Anna runs several NGOs and money was spent illegally for his birthday celebration," Tewari had alleged.
The Congress spokesperson came under attack from the Opposition and civil society for his intemperate remarks against Hazare. Tewari later apologised to Anna and even wrote to the Lok Sabha Speaker asking her to keep him out of the Standing Committee vetting the Lokpal Bill.