Says Kejriwal group has not responded to poser on alternative
Maintaining strong opposition to entering politics as it is “full of dirt”, Anna Hazare on Sunday claimed that he did not get answers from the Arvind Kejriwal-led group on questions raised by him on how to organise a political alternative.
Mr. Hazare, who arrived in New Delhi on Sunday morning and met activists to chalk out the next course of action on an apolitical anti-corruption movement, said the path of “politics is not sacred and it is full of dirt” but the route of agitation is “sacred”.
Contending that a big movement and not politics will give the country its future, the activist said he had told the pro-party group that the route of politics was “not the right direction”.
“I did not give an alternative. When I was told that an alternative has to be given, I said it is a good idea but I asked them to answer my five-six questions (on how to provide an alternative). But I did not get those answers,” he told reporters.
Mr. Hazare was referring to the questions he raised on how will members of a new party be selected, where the money will come from and how will candidates for elections be selected among others.
The activist’s fresh salvo against Mr. Kejriwal came two days after he wrote in a blog that the anti-corruption group split due to “politics” within and not because of any attempts by government.
“If I had to enter elections I would have done it when I would have done it much earlier. I have not even fought Panchayat elections. When I talk about alternative, I am not talking about political alternative,” he said.
He said he will be talking to activists, retired bureaucrats and others in the next couple of days about the next course of action. “Politics is not the right direction. If politics would given us a bright future, then why India once called a golden bird had to mortgage gold. This country will not get the right future from politics,” he said.
Mr. Hazare will return to Ralegan Siddhi on Monday.
Keywords: Anna Hazare, Team Anna, Hazare-Kejriwal rift, Anna Hazare and politics, India against corruption
When anti corruption movement started it has shaken the masses.
Now after a lull, it has lost its steam. government tried to make Lok
Pal bill more acceptable and comprehensive and lost its shape and
goal. now it is in cold storage. corruption is so entrenched in the
fabric of our society and bureaucracy, it is difficult to eradicate it
. Since every body in the govt office is interested in unearned
income, no one will coco operate in eradicating it. however there is
no harm Anna give a try.
Anna should support all good and honest people wishing to enter politics. Right now, they (without mass support) have to depend on highly centralized and well-controlled political parties to win in elections. This is what Anna, being a man of the people, comes in. Kejriwal and his party memebers in parliament and legislatures, and Anna supported by the masses in the civil society could be a double-barreled gun to cleanse the politics. Mahatma Gandhi too allowed the Congress Party to contest the elections. Wish Anna could be flexible to weigh the reality.
Mr Hazare's speech vehemently opposing politics as dirty calls for
high pitch condemnation of his statement.His observations do not bear
any legal-rational base and his acts simply proves he is politically
so novice.If democracy is empowering individuals to develop to their
fullest capabilities then politics is the system which reconciles the
multifarious conflicting interests to sub-serve the common good.If
politics is dirty ,then the answer to it should not be "NO
politics",it should be "Good politics",more and more Good politics.It
is only the Good politics which has the moral strength to purge the
system of Bad politics.Mr Hazare's statement is nothing but an act of
Political Cowardice,a statement which is detrimental to the health of
a ailing democracy which can only be resurrected by infusion of young
blooded good politicians.I hope that Mr Kejriwal's Party launch has
not made Mr Hazare wary of his losing popularity.Mr Hazare has proved
that he is a staunch Anarchist.
Anna's observation is absolutely correct. Even the so called revolutionary parties of this country have amassed wealth worth crores. But how to clear them ? Is there any practical way ? If there is a provision to call back the elected members, it could work to some extent. I think Anna has this suggestion as well. The dirt can be cleaned, but if the political parties and politicians are totally immersed in the dirt of corruption, then what to do ? Really pathetic.
Yes, Politics is full of dirt. We all accept. But, someone has to take the resposibility to clean up. Just by saying it is full of dirt, it will not clean automatically Anna Ji. Take the responsibilty, we are with you.
Eventhough politics in India is full of dirt as mentioned by Anna Hazare there is no other solution in 'DEMOCRATIC Governance' except partcipating in elections and make a thumping win and render Ramrajya. This is possible only when a new political party with declared manifesto and objectives is established with peoples support. Anna's movement got all ingredients and go ahead in the name of 'Bharat Nirman'in national interest. Anna & Baba Ramdev have the ability to overturn Congress. A decade of good governance and law enforcement can change the face of India forever.
Protest and Policymaking, Andolan and Anushasan should be complimentary
I think Anna being a Gandhian wants peaceful ways to make the voices of anti-corruption heard. But at the same time it’s unfair to say politics is dirty, if it is so then “how can we expect unblemished and unbiased consensus on the ways to tackle corruption, from dirty politics?”
If transparency is the mantra of the anti-corruption crusaders then I think it’s time to acknowledge that it’s impossible to see the bed of a muddy water lake, unless you clean it.
Both “peaceful and non-allied democratic voices (Anna’s team)” and “implementation oriented, active resolution voices (Arvind Kejriwal-led group)” have their own places in the finding democratic solutions to this problem. Voices of “Anna’s Activism (Stewardship)” and “Arvind Kejriwal’s policy ownership (Anushasan)” will be a powerful way to clean the so called dirty canvas of Indian politics.
What Anna said is 100% right. But keep away from active politics is not a good tactics to counter them. It might take many years to achieve the desired result. I hope Team Anna get united again for the common cause of cleaning up the corrupt system and will try to unite and lead all the people who wish a good future for our country.
People like Anna need to understand that you cannot have a democracy
without politics. I'm finding it hard to understand how exactly is his
"big movement" going to bring any change? At the end of the day, you
will need political institutions to run a country. How does continuously
delegitimizing them of any good?
Running from the field does not yield desired result. Just wishes will not bring down
the fruits. If my court yard is dirty entering and cleaning it as desired is a better
option than crying from the roof top. Vision is only a first step, swimming against
the current and reaching the goal is what calls bravery.
Entering politics is the way to go. How does Anna expect his "next course of action" to be implemented. There is only so much IAC can do sitting on the sidelines, for real work they have to enter parliament.
Hazare has good intent but looks to be totally confused. If politics is full of dirt, it needs to be cleaned, it my take a generation or two to fully clean it, but process has to be started. We cannot stay away from it making it more dirtier
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