Anna-Ramdev fast: Differences in Team Anna too visible to ignore

New Delhi: Though Yoga guru Ramdev and Anna Hazare presented a joint front on Sunday’s fast demanding the passage of Lokpal and bringing back black money from foreign shores, differences in Team Anna were too visible to be ignored. Around 3 pm, Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal spoke for about ten minutes and he mentioned names of current and former cabinet ministers during his talk. He made a reference to the ‘charge sheet’ recently released by Team Anna against 15 ministers including the prime minister. “People like Lalu Prasad Yadav, Mulayam Singh Yadav and A Raja will not rule the nation,” he said. [caption id=“attachment_330689” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Yoga guru Ramdev and Anna Hazare. Naresh Sharma/ Firstpost”] [/caption] Just after Kejriwal finished speaking, Baba Ramdev cautioned him against naming ministers as it diverted attention from the core issue. Moments later, Arvind left the stage. However, the Anna camp played down the event saying that Kejriwal left as he was not feeling well. “It was pre- decided. Arvind conveyed that he wanted to speak early and leave,” said Manish Sisodia. But Anna’s speech was a ‘study in contrast’ as compared to Arvind Kejriwal’s talk. Anna did not violate , what Ramdev later termed later protocol for the day- not naming any politician or leader. Anna’s speech was timid. He did not take any names and spoke about the struggle against corruption in general. The social activist from Maharashtra’s Ralegan Sidhi district spoke about his experience in the Lokpal movement and movements to transform gram panchayats. Just after Anna finished speaking, Ramdev hugged him. This was the first time that Hazare spoke at Jantar Mantar in the absence of Kejriwal. Later in the day, Ramdev said that he was not in favour of making the struggle, people specific. Around 4500 people gathered at Jantar Mantar, the venue of the fast which was guarded by 500 policemen and 20 battalions of paramilitary forces. At 10.30, Baba Ramdev, Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi reached the fast venue with their supporters. Sunday’s fast came exactly a year after Baba Ramdev was forced to end his demonstration against black money at Delhi’s Ramlila ground. “Hamne Ramlila mein Ravanlila dekhi,” he said, referring to the handling of last year’s episode, of which many said, worked against the ruling government. The fast came at a time when a section of Team Anna is believed to be against the association with the yoga guru. Why is it that when we talk of corruption, the government directs all its forces on us, asked Ramdev. “The prime minister is individually honest. But he has to make sure that he has an honest cabinet,” he said. About the government’s dealings with anti-graft activists, he said, “When the government fails, it unleashes attacks on my associates and that of Anna Hazare.”