Lucknow,October 16 :Rss which was proclaiming from roop tops that its is financing ANNA movement against corruption has given a veiled threat of withdrawing its support to ANNA movement .
ANGRY at Anna Hazare’s denial of RSS support to his movement, Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday issued a veiled threat that the Sangh could withdraw its support to the activist, which would cause his movement to fizzle out.
A statement by the RSS chief, read at the outfit’s national executive meet in Gorakhpur, said: “ Anna’s response ( on our support to his cause) is beyond our comprehension and has caused immense pain to me. It is tragic that a Gandhian like Anna got influenced by a cheap political conspiracy. His views could prove detrimental to his anti- corruption movement.”
An outcast in Team Anna?
All’s not well as Hazare & Kejriwal hold Bhushan to task over K- view
SOCIAL activist and Gandhian Anna Hazare on Friday attempted to distance himself and his team members from the comment made by Prashant Bhushan, one of the key figures in the group who suggested a plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir.
“ What he ( Prashant Bhushan) has said is not good. Kashmir is our land; it is part of India and will remain that way,” Anna said in his village Ralegaon Siddhi.
He was, however, evasive when asked if Bhushan would continue to be a part of the anti- corruption movement India Against Corruption.
“ Whether to keep him or not will be decided later,” he said.
Hazare’s comments on Friday were in stark contrast to what he had said on Wednesday while demanding security for Bhushan after he was attacked by three people in his chamber in the Supreme Court. The Gandhian had then said that as a citizen Bhushan enjoyed the freedom of speech to air his views.
His statements, therefore, on Friday were seen as an attempt to soothe the frayed tempers of a large number of grass root workers of IAC who have strongly opposed any such idea.
“ We won’t tolerate any other view. Even if we have to sacrifice our lives for Kashmir, we would do it but we won’t tolerate any talk of plebiscite in Kashmir. It is our land and it would remain that way,” Hazare said.
He added that Bhushan’s views on Kashmir were his ‘ personal’ views and did not reflect the thinking of the core committee workers of the IAC. Sources said there were apprehensions that the movement would lose its huge public support and sympathy if it was felt that Bhushan’s views had the support of the IAC. Hazare’s aides, meanwhile, dismissed reports of the widening rift within the group and said Bhushan would remain in the core committee.
Social activist Arvind Kejriwal,
regarded as a close confidante of Hazare, also went into a damage control mode and said the attack on Bhushan was meant to divert attention from the Jan Lokpal Bill.
“ The attack was not because of the Kashmir statement. It appeared to have been arranged by corrupt people conspiring to divert attention…. When our member ( Bhushan) pleaded for help from the police he was pushed away. How did the attackers manage to come in buses and then disappear? Even Tajinder Singh Bagga, who attacked Bhushan, could not be traced by the police. All this raises suspicion. Did the police act on its own or on orders from above?” Kejriwal questioned.
Like Hazare, Kejriwal too distanced himself from Bhushan’s statement on Kashmir, saying it was his personal view.
“ India Against Corruption stands for unity and integrity of India. We believe that Kashmir is an integral part of India.
Kashmir is a complex problem and should be solved through peaceful means through dialogue,” Kejriwal said.
“ Bhushan has made great contribution on issues such as environment and human rights. He continues to be an important part of our movement and the core committee,” he added
Sources within the IAC, however, claimed that unlike Swami Agnivesh, Bhushan would not go quietly and his expulsion could also mean that the whole movement may fall apart.
Meanwhile, the three rightwing activists accused of beating Bhushan were given bail by a Delhi court on Friday, despite the police asking for the custody of the accused.
Metropolitan magistrate Sudesh Kumar granted bail to Tejinder Singh Bagga, Inder Verma and Vishnu Gupta, on the condition that they furnish a surety bond of ` 25,000 each.
“ I do not find proper grounds for grant of police custody of the accused. The remand application is rejected,” the court said, adding the condition that the accused “ will not visit the premises of the Supreme Court without prior permission from this court”.
RSS BOND
THE RSS on Friday sought to reinforce its link with Anna Hazare and the anti- corruption campaign spearheaded by the Gandhian by claiming it has been an integral part of all such movements in the past. . RSS joint general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale said: “ Anna and the RSS are not new to each other. We have known each other for a long time. The Sangh is inspired by him and admires his Gram Swaraj model in Ralegan Siddhi.”