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Though it chose to bring BJP under the line of fire for admitting tainted politicians like Babu Singh Kushwaha to blunt criticism of being anti-Congress, it did not spare Congress either, claiming Anna Hazare felt cheated by the Prime Minister and the party's seniormost leadership on the Lokpal issue.
With Hazare indisposed and calling off his agitation plans as well as his tour of five poll-bound states to campaign against Congress, it was prominent Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal who aired the team's views in an article saying they were conscious that a wrong decision at this stage would harm the movement.
"The anti-corruption movement is at the crossroads today. Where do we go from here? We are conscious that a wrong decision at this stage could prove disastrous for the movement. I met Anna in hospital two days back," he said.
Kejriwal's views in public came a week after an ailing Hazare called off his Mumbai fast mid-way and future agitation plans, including jail bharo agitation.
On the advice of doctors, Hazare has also decided not to go ahead with the tour of five states to campaign against Congress for "cheating" people on the Lokpal issue.
He also sought to puncture allegations that they are anti-Congress by attacking BJP for admitting Kushwah, accused of corruption, into its fold saying how can they support a party which admits the likes of him.
"If we do not go for the tour of election-bound states, what should we do? Should Anna go for another fast? But the government has already indicated that if people participating in the movement don't translate into votes, they don't care," Kejriwal said.
The poor public response to Hazare's agitation in Mumbai and Delhi in the last week of December and taunts from the Congress and some other leaders appears to be weighing heavily on the minds of Team Anna.
"Some have suggested we should form our own party. But we neither have the will nor the capacity. This is a people's movement. The movement was successful because thousands participated. The people should now suggest the way ahead,"
Kejriwal said.
A Team Anna member said following Kejriwal's article Team Anna has received around 1,000 emails from across the country giving suggestions.
Kejriwal said Hazare was "deeply" hurt and feeling "cheated" at the way the government treated the issue.
"If the Prime Minister and the seniormost leadership were to cheat the nation like this, where is the hope for our country? If Parliamentarians were to behave like the way some of them did, what is the future for our country ?" Kejriwal quoted Hazare as saying when he met the activist in a Pune hospital early this week.
Defending Team Anna's attack on Congress, Kejriwal said Hazare was surprised when the Standing Committee submitted its report.
Out of 34 amendments suggested, the committee had accepted just one of providing Constitutional status to Lokpal and that was the first time when Hazare blamed Rahul Gandhi, he said.
"We were privately assured that the committee was not the final word and our concerns would be addressed in the bill. The bill that was presented in Parliament is not only weak and ineffective, it is dangerous and would further weaken our already compromised anti-corruption systems.
"...earlier, we were fighting for a strong Lokpal Bill. Today, we are fighting for stopping this one from being passed. This bill should be withdrawn and replaced with a completely different one," Kejriwal said.
Admitting that they were in back-channel talks with the government in December, Kejriwal said, "in our last meeting, they almost challenged - 'You can't hurt us electorally. We will win. We will form the government and make laws. You carry on with your movement and fasts'.
"This means if any people's movement can't hurt them electorally, they don't care. That's dangerous. What should we do now? Should we campaign against Congress or UPA? Some people are objecting - why has this anti-corruption campaign turned anti-Congress ?
"My response is – haven't we been pushed to the corner? We are certainly not anti-Congress. Why should we be? All those who were looking for a hidden agenda have miserably failed," he said.
Claiming that they were being accused of being pro-BJP, he said if they were anti-Congress, they would not be talking to them and engaging with them all this while.
"Some people have created an atmosphere in the country that if you are anti-Congress, you are pro-BJP. There is no middle space. If someone called us anti-Congress today, we could still accept that charge with some reservations as we have been pushed to the corner.
"There is absolutely no evidence of our being pro-BJP . In fact, the evidence indicates to the contrary. Due to the report of Justice Santosh Hegde, who happens to be one of our key core committee members , the BJP CM of Karnataka had to resign. How could we support a party which admits the likes of Kushwaha in its folds?"
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I lost total confidence in him & his team when he campaigned against Congress in Hissar. They are damned politicians playing into the hands of one party. Will never consider supporting them or any organization that has any member of his core team as member. Especially disappointed with Kiran Bedi, had high hopes from her. A collateral good thing that has happened is that Ramdev Baba has been exposed as a rascal.
Dear Kejriwal, You made the 1st mistake , in campaigning against the Congress in the Hissar elections, which clearly showed that yopu were not against corruption, but against Congress. .Your 2nd mistake was to assume that you had all the solutions, and were not amenable to better advise.Your 3rd mistake was to assume that Congress , if it wishes can pass the bill, including amending the Constitution. Your 4th mistake was to assume that a gargantuan body will solve all problems, without goinging into the causes of corruption, and trying to eliminate/reduce the same. A super COp will not reduce /eliminate corruption. Take my advise,and do the following: 1 Police Reforms- this has been pending with the supreme Court since 2006.(2 ) Judicial reforms, aimed at faster justice, without this , no matter how strong the LOK PAl, convictions will not take place.(3 )Elimination of discretion by politicians.(4) Jailing and confistication of property of ill gotten wealth
Why did Team Anna have to wait till BJP took Kushawaha into their fold. Did they not have enough reasons with corruption in the BJP in Karnataka, Uttarakand. Gujarat? Even now they are blaming ManMOhan Singh but are silent on the role played by BJP is opposing LOkAyukth is Stat5es as envisaged in the Bill as well as reneged on the Constitutional amendment after agreeing to the same. Team Anna have to be more clear and not present theselves as an anti congress movement but as an anticorruption. movement.
Annaji is 100% Right. Had Congress brought the bill on time, pass the bill on time, other Parties will not benefit. Today, Congress is in power. It is in majority. If they decide, they can Pass the Jan Lokpal Bill and take credit for them. How Congress Passed Nuclear Deal. Same way they can pass Jan Lokpal Bill.
We are fear Team Anna will meet the same fate what GBA has met! GBA had brought Congress at their Knees and Congress has to Scrap Regional Plan in Goa, which was imposed on Goans by forced. If GBA would have formed Political Party that time then GBA would have Won 90% Seats because GBA was having 95% Support of Goans. Due to GBA remain Apolitical GBA became Zero from Hero. Same thing Team Anna%u2019s fate can become if Team Anna remain Apolitical. Now Team Anna has 90% Support of Indians but this can reduce as time passes. So better Team Anna forms a Secular Political Party and file Candidates from all Religion (Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist & Dalit). If you want to clean a Dirty Well you have to get down into the well to clean. So if you have to Clean a Parliament you have to become a politician. To Remain Apolitical Team Anna can become Zero from Hero like GBA became. Think. You cannot get a Clean Parliament by remaining Apolitical. Team Anna must give Solution to all Indians!
Dear Arvind and Team Anna, We trust your intentions, and appreciate your courage to accept that your movement has become blunt and is at the crossroad of the failure. I think introspection can help, with below questions in mind- 1. Why Anna had to stop fasting? What%u2019s the premise of the fast at first place? If its health concern, than you are just being selfish (forget about patriotism, you have been claiming). If not, than stop calling him Gandhiest. Gandhi would never pull back from a fast for the health. 2. Why you pulled back from Election campaign in 5 states? Or before that why to declare this at all? As your supporter you left me confused! I sincerely hope that you'd not push your supporters against people who vote. Mind it- they are also individuals who can think. Rather they are the ones who made your 15 minutes fame in August. Better accept it as the course of democracy. Introspect sir, that%u2019s what I said before Thakre and after your failure.
Arvind! don't believe these media men and journalists. they will just twist things and make fool of others and also play with poor aam aadmi. Be strong and decide collectively.
When so many crocodiles are surrounded and trying to attack at the flimsiest opportunity, the fight for corruption -less India cannot be taken to its logical conclusion if the armour for protection is not well designed and that is the fear Mr.Kesjriwal is expressing. Added to its woes are media mudslinging being carried on from day one at the behest of vested interests. When they do something, they are wrong, when they do not do they are wrong though the media gave enough publicity and sensation to the fight at the beginning of the movement.
THE PRESENT ELECTIONS TO THE FIVE STATE ASSEMBLIES IS NOT THE FINAL, SO KEJRIWAL JI PLEASE DO NOT ACT IN A HASTE AND RATHER WAIT BECAUSE THE SEEDS FOR THE ENACTMENT OF A STRONG LOK PAL BILL HAVE BEEN SOWN(WITH NECESSARY AMENDMENTS IN RAJYA SABHA). OTHERWISE THE FINAL IS NOT FAR AWAY IN THE FORM OF LOK SABHA POLLS IN 2014 BY WHICH TIME THE TRUTH WILL EMERGE OUT.
The trouble with Team Ann and its three musketeers, namely Kejriwal, Prishant Bhushan and Kiran Bedi - who are worse off shooting their mouths off than if they were to use a real musket - is that they wrongly presume that they alone are the keepers of the country' morality and integrity to the exclusion of all others, including the elected government, which is mandated to provide rule to the country. They must learn to request the government and the Parliament to enact suitable laws rather than commanding them to do so. Because of their arrogance and antagonistic attitude towards all who do not agree with their opinionated views, they have managed to partly snuff the flame of a powerful people's movement. They must learn to be more reasonable and patient and take everyone along if they wish to succeed in their crusade against all-prevailing corruption. They must look for the larger good of the county rather than seek personal glorification in the act.
good this shows leadership qualities of Anna of which he boasted often criticising others like Baba ramdev saying the latter lacks these traits his movement was entry limited affair he did not want politicians around he has no words to explain the misconduct of his team like bedi for her unwanted goonghat act for enriching herself at the cost of others for taking undue advantage of quota for adnmission to medical college for daughter not to forget her dress sense kejriwal bhushan agnivesh even hegde receiving notice from court for his false reporting etc anna cheated baba now at the receiving end
Start a Political party named India Against Corruption. That is the only way out. All People will vote for the party.
Poor Arvind, he has been thoroughly confused by Mr.Prannoy Roy and Shekhar Gupta of IE. Now he does not know which way to take. Arvind, dont listen to these Media persons! just act the way you wish to!
I believe Team Anna when they say they are not Pro BJP. These guys are in it for them self. The problem appears to be that Media needs them because it makes good TV and print reporting and majority of Indians (75%) are struggling to make a living.