Kolkata, Aug 23 (IANS) Anna Hazare is a "fake Gandhi", a top Muslim cleric of West Bengal said Tuesday while slamming the activist's demand for a stronger anti-corruption bill.


"Why Anna Hazare was mum when Gujarat was burning? Why he did not fast when Babri Masjid was razed to the ground? I have seen too many fake Gandhis all these years," said the Shahi Imam of the state.

The cleric was referring to the 2002 Gujarat riots in which Chief Minister Narendra Modi was allegedly involved. The Babri mosque in Ayodhya was razed in 1992.

"We feel Hazare is a farce. He is the same man who has praised Narendra Modi and Uddhav Thackeray. By leading few thousands from a capacity of 120 crore (1.2 billion) doesn't excite us much," said Aziz Mubarki, media advisor to the Shahi Imam.