Amit Shankar
New Delhi , Aug 6 (ANI): Has Team Anna, which united the whole nation in the fight against corruption, given up its mission for a strong Lokpal Bill by deciding to disband itself?
There seems to be rumor going around after veteran social activist Anna Hazare, considered to be the ‘Mahatma’ of this core group, announced the disbandment in his blog, without clearly specifying whether Team Anna is forming a political party.
“We are now stopping the activities of Team Anna today. Team Anna was formed to fight for the Jan Lokpal Bill. We have also decided not to have any more talks with the government. From today, there will be no Team Anna, or Team Anna Core Committee,” Hazare said in his blog. “The government is not ready to enact the Jan Lokpal Bill. How long and how many times we will go on fast? Now, people have asked us to abandon the process of fasting and give an alternative. I also thought that the government is not going to curb corruption,” he added.
Hazare also revealed in his blog that over Rs. 10 to 15 crores is required to contest elections, and asked from where so much money would come so that the people of the country can be provided with a political alternative.
The dissolution of Team Anna came three days after it ended its indefinite fast at the Jantar Mantar here with an announcement of forming a political alternative.
Hazare has said he will not run for office, but will support his aides who want to contest elections.
The government has hit back at Team Anna, accusing it of always being power-hungry, and urged it to contest elections to prove their claim of representing the will of the people.
The standoff between the UPA and Team Anna intensified after the latter demanded the setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of retired judges of Supreme and High Courts, to probe charges of corruption against 15 cabinet ministers, including Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.
Union Law and Justice Minister Salman Khurshid on Monday said the Central Government could do nothing if Team Anna has decided not to hold talks with it.
Khurshid said the ruling UPA Government had made several attempts to hold talks with civil society activists.
“If they don’t want to talk, what can I do? We made several attempts to hold talks. Talks were also held. And then you (mediapersons) asked what was the conversation all about,” he said. Anna today disbanded itself and decided not to have any more talks with the government on Lokpal issue.
The dissolution of Anna Hazare’s team came three days after it ended its indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar here with plans for formation of a political alternative to fight the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
“The government is not ready to enact Jan Lokpal Bill. How long and how many times we will go on fast? Now people have asked us to leave fast and give an alternative. I also thought that the government is not going to curb corruption. We are now stopping the activities of Team Anna today,” Hazare said in his blog.
“Team Anna was formed to fight for Jan Lokpal. We have also decided not to have any more talks with the government. From today, there will be no Team Anna or Team Anna Core Committee,” he added.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/team-annas-promise-of-lokpal-ill-goes-in-vain/
