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Courtesy AajTak
In his last interview before going on a maun vrat in Ralegan-Siddhi, Anna Hazare told AajTak’s Rahul Kanwal on ‘Seedhi Baat’ (scheduled to be telecast on Sunday at 8.30 pm) that he will work with the Congress across the country if the UPA Government brings a strong Lokpal in the Winter Session and the if the Prime Minister keeps his promise on electoral reforms, right to reject, decentralisation and more power to gram sabha.
“If the Government brings a strong Lokpal and keeps its other promises, why should I oppose the Congress? In fact, we will work with the Congress,” asserted Hazare, trying to dispel the notion that Team Anna is anti-Congress.
However, Hazare also sent out a warning to the party. He said if the Lokpal Bill was not passed in the Winter Session, he would ruin the Congress’ fortunes in the forthcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Punjab.
The veteran activist also denied that Team Anna had campaigned against the Congress in Hisar at the behest of the BJP and RSS. On RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, he said, “I have only seen him on TV. I have never met him or spoken to him. These are all allegations. In politics, parties are ready to do anything. The Congress, BJP and RSS are together conspiring to defame Anna. I have nothing to do with the RSS or BJP.”
The social activist denied that that he had received a letter from the RSS. “I don’t even recognise Ram Madhav,” said Hazare, when asked why the RSS leader was allowed on stage during the Jantar Mantar agitation.
He said he had never thanked BJP president Nitin Gadkari for the party’s support. “If someone else from my team did, I can’t say,” he added.
Rebuffing Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan, Hazare said he completely disassociated himself with his remarks on Kashmir. He strongly hinted that he should not be part of Team Anna anymore. “I am against anybody who talks about dividing the country.
I am very uncomfortable with what Bhushan has said. Our core committee will meet to decide on his continuing as a team member. After it meets, I will take a decision.”
Anna also said, “Kejriwal has not told me what he has said. But if he did say ‘Anna is above Parliament’, it’s wrong. People are above Parliament, not Anna.” Hazare said he would tell his colleagues not to exceed their brief.
Hazare laughed off Congress leader Digvijay Singh’s claim that the former was being set up as a presidential candidate for 2012. “I neither have the aptitude nor the desire to become President. If I become President, I won’t be able to do what I have been doing for society now.” He said the Congress and BJP were shooting in the dark by spreading such rumours.
In his last interview before going on a maun vrat in Ralegan-Siddhi, Anna Hazare told AajTak’s Rahul Kanwal on ‘Seedhi Baat’ (scheduled to be telecast on Sunday at 8.30 pm) that he will work with the Congress across the country if the UPA Government brings a strong Lokpal in the Winter Session and the if the Prime Minister keeps his promise on electoral reforms, right to reject, decentralisation and more power to gram sabha.
“If the Government brings a strong Lokpal and keeps its other promises, why should I oppose the Congress? In fact, we will work with the Congress,” asserted Hazare, trying to dispel the notion that Team Anna is anti-Congress.
However, Hazare also sent out a warning to the party. He said if the Lokpal Bill was not passed in the Winter Session, he would ruin the Congress’ fortunes in the forthcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Punjab.
The veteran activist also denied that Team Anna had campaigned against the Congress in Hisar at the behest of the BJP and RSS. On RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, he said, “I have only seen him on TV. I have never met him or spoken to him. These are all allegations. In politics, parties are ready to do anything. The Congress, BJP and RSS are together conspiring to defame Anna. I have nothing to do with the RSS or BJP.”
The social activist denied that that he had received a letter from the RSS. “I don’t even recognise Ram Madhav,” said Hazare, when asked why the RSS leader was allowed on stage during the Jantar Mantar agitation.
He said he had never thanked BJP president Nitin Gadkari for the party’s support. “If someone else from my team did, I can’t say,” he added.
Rebuffing Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan, Hazare said he completely disassociated himself with his remarks on Kashmir. He strongly hinted that he should not be part of Team Anna anymore. “I am against anybody who talks about dividing the country.
I am very uncomfortable with what Bhushan has said. Our core committee will meet to decide on his continuing as a team member. After it meets, I will take a decision.”
Anna also said, “Kejriwal has not told me what he has said. But if he did say ‘Anna is above Parliament’, it’s wrong. People are above Parliament, not Anna.” Hazare said he would tell his colleagues not to exceed their brief.
Hazare laughed off Congress leader Digvijay Singh’s claim that the former was being set up as a presidential candidate for 2012. “I neither have the aptitude nor the desire to become President. If I become President, I won’t be able to do what I have been doing for society now.” He said the Congress and BJP were shooting in the dark by spreading such rumours.
