Anna to Kejriwal: 'I will not be a part of it in any form'

Danish • September 20, 2012, 02:24:44 IST

Post August 3 agitation at Jantar Mantar, IAC volunteers stand divided into two groups- one in favour and the other against launching a political party. The latter has been persuading Hazate to continue the movement in a non political form.

Anna to Kejriwal: 'I will not be a part of it in any form'

New Delhi: Anna Hazare has made it clear that he will not extend any support in any form to the political party launched by India Against Corruption and that in future, he and associates of Arvind Kejriwal will take different routes to fight graft.

“If they are confident of contesting elections, they should go ahead. They have my blessings. I will be happy if they win. But I will not be a part of it in any form. They cannot use my name or photo for the political party,” said Hazare after a day long deliberation with IAC members in Delhi on Wednesday.

About the survey conducted by IAC in which majority of respondents said they were in favour of IAC launching a political party, Hazare said he did not believe in a survey conducted via social media.

Former Karnataka Lokayukta justice Santosh Hegde, Kiran Bedi, Kumar Vishwas, Prashant and Shanti Bhushan were present in Wednesday’s meeting along with around 40 IAC members.

Hazare said in the days to come he will embark a nation wide tour to create awareness on jan Lokpal. “It is unfortunate that the team stands divided, but the aim is same,” said he.

Hegde, Bedi and Medha Patkar have said that they are not in favour of IAC launching political party to fight graft.

Past week, Hazare, on three occasions, indicated his disagreement over the movement going political. On Tuesday evening, Hazare met a group of IAC volunteers which is against the idea of anti- graft movement converting political. “If some people want to launch a political party, let them do it. We are not bothered. That is not our way,” he said on Tuesday.

However, till Wednesday’s meeting, it was not clear in what form and to what extent, Hazare will extend support to the anti- graft movement’s political version.