Team Anna in damage control mode
Team Anna members are trying to cope with the damage to the anti-corruption movement caused by recent events, including a statement on Kashmir made by team member Prashant Bhushan that got him assaulted by a shadowy outfit.
The differences were serious enough to warrant a discussion by the team members on Friday at the residence of Shanti Bhushan, a senior member of the movement.
According to sources, Prashant Bhushan told other members that he had not demanded a plebiscite in Kashmir, but only suggested it as a possible way of solution to the vexed problem, in case other means were exhausted.
“He has only suggested a solution when other means get exhausted. His position is clear on the issue. He is being unnecessarily targeted,” Medha Patkar told Deccan Herald.
The statement on Kashmir by India Against Corruption was prepared jointly by the team, pointed out an anti-graft activist present in the meeting.
The committee viewed the attack as a conspiracy against the movement. However, the team is trying to clear the air in the wake of confusion created after Hazare’s remarks on Bhushan’s continuation in the team.
Hazare had on Friday said the continuance of Bhushan would be decided soon, only to retract following a meeting of the core committee before going on a “maun vrat” (vow of silence). Anna’s interaction with media is handled by his advisers at Ralegan Siddhi and he often speaks many things without any formal consultation with his team, sources said.
The issue of maintaining equal distance from the Congress and BJP has been resolved for the time being. The committee is said to have prevailed on Arvind Kejrwal, a strong votary of continuing attack on the Congress, to make changes in Hazare’s Uttar Pradesh campaign.
Agnivesh fumes
A former member of Team Anna, activist Swami Agnivesh on Sunday took a dig at Hazare saying there was “no democracy” in his agitation and dissenting voices were thrown out of the team.
Agnivesh, who was marginalised by Team Anna as they suspected him to be a “government mole,” termed Hazare’s campaign “brahminvaad” and said the RSS stamp was “very much evident” in the campaign.
He said many of the crucial decisions like opposing the Congress in Hisar elections and holding referendum in Union Minister Kapil Sibal’s constituency were not taken by the core committee and it was like “Anna and Arvind (Kejriwal) were taking all decisions.”
Claiming that he had argued for better representation of Muslims and Dalits in the anti-corruption, Agnivesh said: “They were not ready to treat everybody equal. We did not see Dalits or Muslims at Jantar Mantar or Ramlila Maidan where Anna sat on fast.”
