Erstwhile Team Anna on Sunday claimed that the decision to turn the anti-corruption movement political was Anna Hazare’s and a “malicious” campaign has been working overtime to drive a wedge between them and the 74-year-old social activist.
Breaking his silence over claims by a section of Team Anna members that Mr Hazare was against forming a political party, activist Arvind Kejriwal alleged a “propaganda machinery” was working overtime to “drive wedge” between Mr Hazare and other activists.
“A malicious campaign is being run that Anna is against political party and that Team thrust it on Anna. Truth is it was Anna’s decision,” Mr Kejriwal tweeted on Sunday morning.
His remarks came a day after reports quoting Team Anna members mentioned that Mr Hazare was against the formation of a party saying they were not prepared to take a plunge in politics.
On August three while calling off his fast, Mr Hazare had announced the formation of a political alternative though he had said he would not be a member of the party.
“Anna clearly directed us to start forming political party. If he says even once that he doesn’t want us to do that, we will immediately withdraw. Let Anna say once that he is against pol(itical) party formation, we will immediately withdraw,” Mr Kejriwal wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter.
He claimed that Mr Hazare heeded to public demand and is convinced that there was no road left other than providing political alternative.
“Anna has been fighting corrupt for last 30 years. He is extremely sharp politically n (sic) fiercely independent. Those projecting Anna as a gullible man may try getting Anna to say a single line against his wishes.
“For last one year, Anna (was) being projected as a simpleton, an infant who could be influenced by anyone,” he said.
On Saturday, erstwhile Team Anna member Sunita Godara claimed Mr Hazare did not pressurise anyone but said that they were free to choose their own path.
“He told us that if you feel that this new alternative is a better way to fight against corruption and you believe that through this new alternative, you will win this fight then you have the freedom to choose that,” she said.
Justice Santosh Hegde, who was also associated with the movement, said he is convinced that Mr Hazare was right in not taking political plunge. “I don’t think Team Anna would be able to successfully float a party and find candidates for all constituencies,” he said.
In a statement uploaded on India Against Corruption website on Saturday, erstwhile Team Anna member Kumar Vishwas sought to rebut the remarks on the feasibility of floating a political party.
Quoting Chanakya, he said one has to enter politics to clean it up. “Like anti-venom medicines are made from snake venom, one has to use creative, moral and responsible politics to tackle wrong, direction-less and immoral politics,” Mr Vishwas said.
On criticism of Team Anna’s move, he alleged that no intellectual finds it necessary to comment when a criminal or a film star launches party.
Keywords: Team Anna, Anna Hazare, anti-corruption movement, Team Anna politics, Anna Hazare politics, Jan Lokpal, Lokpal issue, new political party
In the present political environment where the central coalition government is
dictated by the small parties whose support is crucial for the survival, a small party
can make a big difference too. All that Team Anna needs is may be 60-70 MPs with a
clear agenda and clear goals to clean up the corruption in this country.
I happened to watch Arnab interview Bedi soon after the call off of the fast and the declaration to form a political party.
She waxed eloquent, with her usual air and aura of sainthood on how the Team Anna gang would travel all over Indian villages, get the peoples's mood, go back, report to Anna and then after his approval for every matter including selection of candidates plunge into political party formation.The way the whole thing was unfolded by Bedi it appeared to the viewers that Bedi was the accredited voice to Anna.
Then came the bombshell from Anna-no political party.
Before this event, we had Kejriwal announcing at the maidan that Team Anna party would be run by the people and not from air conditioned offices.
Read the 2 comments, together !!
Do you need an external agency to drive a wedge?
Please let Anna lead and Kejriwal be his sole voice-forget democracy and people's consent for every move-be practical, you can't run a movement without an able General and staff.
A honest political force is the only way to bring a change in India. We have see how Govt played with Team Anna for last 2 years. Did they succeeds on their goal to bring LOKPAL ? LOKPAL did not came in 50 yrs after independence, & we don't believe any political parties & their leaders are seriously willing to bring a serious LOKPAL.
So, the decision to give a alternative political force is the correct decision. No option left. Only winning a mere ~30 seats in Parliament, will give enough power to bring about the social changes needed in this country. I Support Team ANNA can do it, also its people of India to decide what they want. Politician like Mulayam, Mayawati or LALU or Sonia or a fresh start with a honest man like ANNA, Kejriwal & their team.
After seeing what has happened for the last one year or so,it seems that
there is no need for somebody to divide them. They are sufficient to "
undo" themselves.They are good at blaming others, and not ready to introspect within about the setback.Now they want to fight the election
only in Delhi.Why??
There will be vested interests always to nip any good option in the blood. The propaganda machinery may be losing its sleep to somehow isolate the leader Anna from his team.Let Anna test the political waters in the Delhi municipal elections before the 2014 general elections.
Team Anna is the beacon of hope for crores of hapless and voiceless
Indians who have been and who continue to be the victims of
corruption .Mr. Kejriwal & Co who, inspired by Anna Hazare have thus
far travelled in their fight against corruption. Just as the corrupt
forces have a single point agenda of breaking this movement at all
costs,Team Anna should stand together like unbreakable mountain to
beat their detractors in their game.Let Kejriwal & Co be careful
enough to speak with one voice with one core agenda in mind instead of
responding to every statement issued by the vested interests to drive
wedge among them. Instead, let them go ahead with naming their
party,devise a solid organizational structure, run it democratically
by electing from national to village level office bearers, deny access
to infiltrators with pro - corruption and anti- Anna agenda,form a
truly nationalistic manifesto and release it in all languages across
the country without wasting further time!
Anna team is fighting in national interest and they are bound to succeed. Present political parties and leaders shall realize it only in 2014 when all of them loose seats under Tsunami of peoples awareness & empowerment.
Politicians are scared of Anna's entry in politics so the malicious allegations. Anna Team need not bother such allegations and go forward to provide alternative to the existing electrol system by forming a party or otherwise. Chances of success is plenty as people fedup with the present corrupt system in the country.
A perceptible decline in political culture is getting reflected in the eroding credibility of the constitutional institutions.
Attempts to safeguard politically vested interests have led to politicization of these institutions.
The increasing political interference in the functioning of these institutions and presence of pliable officials have led to a situation that people are fastly loosing faith in the system.
I am not against the any movement I am also not a big manto somebody hear and follow me.All are like sword against law and order activities.But one thing very clear constitution of India does not permit any one to defame without proof.If proof is there any one can file suit against any one like Anna ji did in past alone.IInd thing we know each and every institute meant for maintain and safe guard against coruption and misuse of power. Start from Village level and up toDDO is authority for development in all respect.If villagers or Sahahri.Undoubtedly Govt instrument is need be sharpen some where jung is there.It should be combined efforts with elected rep and you people for removing it from root.One PM had accepted this in Mumbai Congress Adhivesan and people make conspiracy and booked him, did powerless called BINA FORCE which equipment saved the shame in war.
Like you though how govt has taken action against resigned from post.My dear honest citizen we and so many in Govt want this
Majority of Indians are for Anna(against corruption). But fasting etc
will not solve the issue. Though, it has in its own way,has displayed
common man's desire to get rid of the massive corruption in front of the
Govt/politicians and they are scared. But the Govt/politicians will
never like it, since India has money based politics needing huge amount
of money,which cannot come without resorting to corrupt practices.
Change can come only with mass movement at all levels and throughout the
nation.
Anna's & his team is non believers in parliamentary norms and procedures, they care a foot for it. They only believe in Mobocracy and political fanaticism.
If such people come to power,they will try to crush our constitution too.
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