Social activists Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday parted ways, with Hazare declaring Team Anna had ceased to exist and he had nothing to do with the political plans some members of the movement might have.
After a day-long meeting with other activists of the movement, the veteran activist was blunt, saying his name and picture should not be used by the India Against Corruption movement or the political party it launched. He, however, added he might support candidates fielded by Kejriwal’s party on a selective basis, if he found them up to the mark.
“It is unfortunate the team has separated....I will not join any party or any group. I will not go for their campaigns. I have told them not to use my photo or my name in their campaign. You fight on your own,” he told reporters here. Hazare said he had always opposed launching a political party, but added anti-corruption activists who wanted to be part of a political party were free to do so. “My best wishes are with them (those taking a political path). There is no harm in it. If they think they can get majority in Parliament, it is good....The paths have been separated. Both of us have chosen our (separate paths),” he added.
Hazare refused to accept the results of a survey by India Against Corruption that showed immense support for a political path, saying he didn’t agree with the exercise carried out through social networking sites. “If you can go to the 3,00,000 gram sabhas and get their views, I will accept anything you say,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hazare’s comments appeared to have unsettled activists who were bracing themselves for life without his support. “Arvind (Kejriwal) ko paagal bana diya hai Annaji ne,” said an associate of Kejriwal.
Asked if they were ready to carry on without Anna Hazare, Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav, who, along with Kejriwal, are leading the part of the movement that is likely to launch a political party, “Let us see. Let us first listen to the participants at the meeting today.”
Reacting to the development, Kejriwal tweeted, “(The) country is on sale. It is passing through a very difficult phase. I will do everything possible for me to save my country.”
Another former Team Anna member, Kiran Bedi, who is opposed to forming a party, tweeted, “Anna finally distances himself from political option. Moves to strengthen the movement. May bring together anti-corruption movements.” She said she had appealed to members of the team who were keen on the political option to give the movement more time. “But it appears they are convinced about their option. This finality by Anna was essential to dispel the mix-up of the movement and the party politics,” she said.