Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar Wednesday hit back at Anna Hazare for justifying the recent physical attacks on politicians but appealed to his partymen to refrain from violent retaliation.

In a statement here, Pawar said though he was pained by the vituperative statements by Hazare on his blog Tuesday, he would appeal to all his followers and activists of the Nationalist Congress Party to deal with the issue "maturely" and without indulging in any form of violence in words or deeds.

"By supporting the physical assault on me at a public function, Hazare has given a new definition to the concept of 'Gandhism and non-violence'," Pawar said sarcastically, referring to Hazare's oft-repeated claims of being a Gandhian and believer of non-violence.

While Pawar asserted in his statement that he had no objection to Hazare expressing his views on him (Pawar) or his (Pawar's) actions, "if any further physical attack takes place on me, it would be amply clear from where the instigation or encouragement for such acts emanates".

Despite Hazare's allegation on his blog that Pawar has "an old habit of protecting corrupt people" and one should "consider why Pawar was attacked," Pawar appealed to his followers and party activists not to resort to any form of violence.

Dismissing Hazare's allegation that he had given protection to corrupt individuals as per the Justice P.B. Sawant Commission of Inquiry report, Pawar pointed out that the probe report has not made any direct or indirect reference to him.

Besides, Pawar said all the ministers indicted in the inquiry have already resigned.

However, he said he found it strange that "no action seems to have been taken on the issue of maladministration and corruption mentioned in the Justice Sawant Commission report regarding Anna Hazare".

Source~The Times of India