Anna Hazare
4 August 2012. Yesterday Anna Hazare broke his fast by drinking juice offered by ex-Army chief, General VK Singh. Other team members, including Arvind Kejriwal followed suite. Before breaking his fast, Anna Hazare said “I will awaken people, once that happens, people will think about alternatives,” he said. Hazare went on to add that the people of the country should have power. “Give people the power, they are the owners of this country,” In his fast breaking speech Kejriwal said, “Having faced with an indifferent government, we have realised the need to reposition our struggle on the street in such a way so that we can enter Parliament, not just for capturing power, but for uprooting the corrupt government and changing the entire system. For that we need to fight on the street to mobilise a revolutionary movement for all-round change,” Now, the latest grapevine creeping out of Team Anna camp has it that Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi, Kapil Sibal, Manish Sisodia and Prashant Bhushan would be among those set to contest the coming elections. Kejriwal elaborated at Jantar Mantar on how Team Anna’s political party will differ from others. He said, “I want to tell the Congress, if they can pass the Right to Reject and Janlokpal then we will not get into politics.” Former Army chief General V K Singh also shared the dais with Anna Hazare and his team members. Addressing the gathering, Singh asked people to help Anna Hazare in the evolution of a ‘real democracy’. Singh was of the opinion that ‘rampant corruption’ is the biggest problem plaguing the country. “I congratulate you all for deciding to join the political race,” he added. Singh was among 21 others who yesterday appealed to Team Anna to end their stir contending that their energies are needed for reforming the existing political system. Former Karnataka Lokayukta and Team Anna member Santosh Hegde today said he does not support Anna Hazare and his team floating a political party, but would campaign for candidates who identify themselves with his movement against corruption. Hegde said Anna’s identity is not of a politician but one who wants to bring about social change. “I think he should continue to be like that. Anna is not meant for forming a political party,” he added. But he had no reservations about Team Anna members contesting the elections. “In the next election the issue will be one of corruption, not caste or community,” he said.
