Bengaluru: Renowned social activist Anna Hazare on January 5 lashed out at Union Minister Ananth Kumar Hegde and said that the MP needed to be admitted in a mental hospital and must get treated.

Reacting on the controversial statement made by Hegde on changing the Constitution, Hazare attending a press meet here in Belagavi said, “Indian system functions and its strength lies in our constitutional values. Every government works as per the Constitution and people’s representatives need to be responsible enough not to talk about changing the Constitution.”

At the same time, Hazare also lambasted Prime Minister Modi for failing to eradicate corruption. “By demonitising Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes, Modi has not put an end to corruption. Lokpal Bill has not been passed and Modi has failed miserably in making India a ‘corruption-free’ nation.”

It may be recalled that that the Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship had recently said that the BJP was in power to “change the Constitution.” “People agree with the word secular as it is mentioned in the Constitution. It (the Constitution) has changed many times before and we have come to change the Constitution”, Hegde had said at an event in Kuknur in Koppal district, about 400 km to the north of the state capital.

“Those who call themselves secular are like people ‘without parentage.’ If someone says I’m a Muslim, Christian, Lingayat, Brahmin or a Hindu, I feel happy because they know their roots. For those calling themselves secularists, I don’t know what to call them”, the 49-year-old minister had said evoking backlash from his own party members and the opposition party leaders.