Anna to team: Don't exceed brief and speak on every issue

In his October 10 letter to Hazare, the Prime Minister had declared government’s commitment to a strong Lokpal while saying that his demand for ‘Right to Reject’ provision in electoral law needs political consensus. Hazare made light of Congress leader Digvijay Singh’s claim that he was being set up as a Presidential candidate in 2012. “I neither have the aptitude nor the desire to become President. In any case, 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. Hazare denied that that he had received any letter from the RSS. “I don’t even recognise Ram Madhav,” he said 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 BJP’s support. “If someone else from my team did, I can’t say.” In a rebuff to Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan, Hazare said he has completely disassociated himself with his remarks on Kashmir. “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.” Hazare also said Arvind Kejriwal was wrong in saying that Anna Hazare is above Parliament. “Arvind 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.” He said he would tell his colleagues not to exceed their brief and speak on each and every issue. PTI