NEW DELHI, Aug 7:
After social activist Anna Hazare’s decision of dissolving Team Anna, a preparatory committee is being formed to prepare a plan for the next phase of the anti-corruption movement.
Sources in India Against Corruption (IAC) today said the committee will prepare a plan for the next phase of Hazare’s movement which will be political.
“After meeting some of the core committee members and discussing with others, Anna Hazare disbanded his core committee. The committee was formed to negotiate Lokpal Bill with the Government. Since the movement for Lokpal has now become a movement for total revolution, the core committee met to chalk out its focused responsibility,” the sources said.
In order to prepare for the next phase of the movement, a preparatory committee is underway. This would be very inclusive.
“It would include people with mass base and representing various sections and movements. Names are yet being discussed. This committee would only prepare a plan for the next phase of the movement,” the sources added.
In an apparent move to float a political party, Hazare yesterday dissolved his team, popularly referred to as Team Anna, saying “its work is over” and decided not to have any more talks with the government on Lokpal issue.
“The government is not ready to pass Jan Lokpal Bill. How long and how many times we will go on fast? Now, it is time to leave fasts and provide an alternative to the people. I also thought that the government is not going to curb corruption. It has no intention to do so,” Hazare said in his latest blog.
He said Team Anna was set up to get Jan Lokpal Bill passed.
“We have decided not to engage with the Government on the issue. The work initiated by Team Anna has come to an end. The core committee of Team Anna also ceases to exist,” the 75-year-old Gandhian added.
However, Hazare made it clear that he will neither form a political party or group nor will fight elections.
Team Anna had ended its indefinite fast on Lokpal issue at Jantar Mantar on August 3 and announced to enter politics.
Hazare’s decision dissolving his team has created visible differences in its members.
Former Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde, who is associated with Hazare’s movement, said disbanding of the team is an inevitable decision of Hazare as he has decided to float a political party, which is a wrong decision.
“What other option did Mr Hazare had? It was a logical end to the Team Anna as he has now decided to enter politics. But does he realise the uphill task he will face to succeed in politics. If Hazare wants to contest elections, I am out of it,” Justice (retd) Hegde said.
“Read Anna’s blog. Do not know what all it means? For we all had very useful preparatory meeting with Annaji wherein he gave useful guidance!” team member Kiran Bedi said on twitter. The former IPS officer added, “Each of us in whatever way we can have to take responsibility for our duties towards d country! I guess Anna is placing d onus back on us!”
She said Team Anna was a name coined probably by some creative media. In fact it was Movement-Anna.
Ms Bedi added that mass movement against corruption cannot be buried as it is in “hearts and minds of every Indian” and it will remain till solutions are found.(UNI)