Anna's supporters, who were irked with his decision to float a
political outfit in a bid to clean up corruption in the country, burnt
the posters of the 75-year-old Gandhian and that of India Against Corruption (IAC) in Navsari, Surat, according to media reports.
This unexpected move from Team Anna has taken everyone by surprise,
mainly their supporters. A section of supporters looked at this decision
as a let down by the anti-corruption crusaders as they wanted a
revolution and not another political party. Few volunteers of IAC have
reportedly returned their ID cards expressing their dissent to Anna's
political idea.
In his latest blog, Hazare said the country needs an alternative and
the gram sabhas should pass a resolution to this effect, besides
ensuring that more than 90 per cent voters exercise their franchise.
“You need lots of money to fight election these days. Where will the
money come from if one wants to provide an alternative by fighting
elections? All the six lakh gram sabhas in the country should pass a
resolution that they will support the alternative and will vote for the
party which will provide for this alternative... if such a resolution is
passed, then we will be able to give an alternative,” said Hazare,
spelling out for a political alternative.
He said youth and students should tour villages to awaken them and
get this resolution passed. “The gram sabhas should also pass a
resolution committing that more than 90 per cent of its voters will
exercise their franchise,” he said.
Noting that providing an alternative is not an easy job, he said it
is also not an impossible job. “But I want to emphasis that I will not
contest election or form a party. I will tour the country to awaken
people and ensure that good people go to Parliament. I think that people
will welcome the alternative as they are suffering due to corruption,”
he said.
He alleged that those in Government have been intoxicated by power
and money and they will not provide a corruption-free country.
Meanwhile, his team is going to hold a “brainstorming session” on
whether to contest the upcoming Assembly elections in BJP-ruled Gujarat
and Himachal Pradesh.
“We have not yet decided,” Team Anna member
Prashant Bhushan told media on Sunday.
A meeting of the Core Committee will be held “very soon” in which
various issues, including contesting Assembly elections, will be
discussed, a Team Anna member said.
The main agenda of the meeting would be the ‘Swaraj Yatra’ to drum up
support for its political alternative and find new allies even as a
section of its associates are unhappy with the decision to turn
political.
Prominent Team Anna members Santosh Hegde and Medha Patkar have
already voiced their opposition to the move while a number of
volunteers, who were part of the movement and the fast at Jantar Mantar,
left the venue in protest.
“We respect it as their decision but not ours. It’s not a criticism
of anyone, not even of process. I knew this, no shock either.
Alternative politics is needed, but beyond party. Movements’ politics
should aim at power to people. It is easy for politicians to fight us on
their turf,” Patkar said.
Hegde has said he does not support Hazare floating a party but would
campaign for candidates who identify with the movement against
corruption.
When asked about the voices of opposition from within, Team Anna
member Kumar Vishwas said no one is opposing the decision because all
were taken into confidence.
“They have their positions. It is only
different opinions,” he said.
Vishwas said they will soon sit together to chalk out plans for its
country-wide tour which will have Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal, Manish
Sisodia, Kiran Bedi and others in attendance.
“Arvind, Manish and Gopal Rai, who were fasting for ten days, need
some rest. We will soon meet and the decide on the yatra,” Vishwas said.
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