Ralegan Siddhi, Maharashtra: Distancing himself from lawyer Prashant Bhushan's controversial statement on plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir, Anna Hazare yesterday said Team Anna is not in agreement with his views and the state is an integral part of India.
"Kashmir is an integral part of India. Bhushan has given his personal opinion and Team Anna is not in agreement with the views," Hazare told mediapersons.
Hazare pointed out that he had visited some of the most sensitive areas of the state without any security, since "Kashmir belongs to my country and nobody can stop us from moving freely in the state".
He said for the cause of Jammu and Kashmir, he was ready to do anything. "I am ready to sacrifice my life anytime for Kashmir as it belongs to India and will always remain with my country," Hazare said.
Bhushan, who has been campaigning with Hazare against corruption, had favoured a plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir. He was bashed up in his chamber in Supreme Court in Delhi Wednesday by a youth of the rightwing Sri Ram Sene for this statement.
"Team Anna was formed only for the Janlokpal Bill, corruption-free India and right to reject, recall, decentralisation. We don't talk about anything other than this," Hazare said.
Lauded attacks
Significantly, Hazare's views came in the wake of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray's statement in Thursday's Dopahar Ka Saamna in which he lauded the attacks on Bhushan.
On Thursday, Hazare said there is no difference between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in dealing with corruption and both are misleading the people on the issue.
"Both parties do not speak on removing corruption," Hazare said in his letter to Congress leader Digvijay Singh.
The letter came in response to the Congress general secretary's open letter Tuesday, accusing Hazare of links with the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS).
Anna denied any links with the RSS and swore no RSS worker attended his anti-graft fast at the Ramlila Ground in Delhi in August.
"You have tried to link me with RSS and BJP. By showing the dispute between them (Congress and BJP), they are trying to mislead the people of this country," said Anna.
"You think that by my anti-Congress campaign, the BJP will be benefited, but why is the Congress giving them (BJP) a chance?" he asked. "If RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said his organisation supported my movement, I think they are trying to defame me," said Hazare.
Thackeray backs attackers
Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray yesterday congratulated the people who attacked senior lawyer and Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan in his chamber in the Supreme Court in Delhi three days ago.
In a statement in the party's mouthpiece, Dopahar Ka Saamna, Thackeray referred to Bhushan's statements on Jammu and Kashmir and said: "Shabbaash! Those who speak of dividing the country should be taught a lesson like this."
Police nabbed the attackers.
