Team Anna not to target Congress

Mumbai: In what was music to ears of Congress leaders, Team Anna yesterday announced that though it would campaign on their version of the ombudsman law in five assembly poll-bound states, it would not target any particular party in its campaign.

"We will not campaign against or in favour of any political party during our campaign. This is not a battle lasting for just two months, but a long one. In this long battle we will talk only about the need for systemic changes. We will create awareness among people only on this issue," key Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal said.

Kejriwal was talking to newsmen at Ralegan Siddhi, after he, other Team members Prashant Bhushan and Kumar Vishwas, met recuperating Anna Hazare and briefed him of what had transpired at their core group meeting at Ghaziabad near New Delhi on Monday and sought the latter's advice on how to proceed with their proposed campaign of five poll-bound states.

Hazare — who has been advised rest for one month — will not campaign in five states, while Team Anna members will fan out to the states — Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur, where the assembly elections are to be held between January 28 and March 3.

All tainted

On why Team Anna chose not to target the Congress in the five states as planned earlier, Kejriwal said: "One thing that clearly emerges when we go and campaign against a particular party is people will ask us as to whom they should vote. You are witness to whatever that is happening during recent weeks. There is no such party to which we can point out and say that it is a clean party and that this party deserves votes from people. Because, all parties carry the taint of corruption.

"That's why when we discussed among ourselves, it was decided that we will not campaign against or in favour of any political party," Kejriwal said.

Stating that Team Anna core group members had deliberated at length on the recent developments in Parliament and outside, Bhushan said: "It was the responsibility of the government to bring in the Lok Pal [ombudsman] legislation. But the Government repeatedly betrayed us and the people of the country. Even the role played by various other parties was doubtful … The consensus that emerged was that we will not campaign against any one particular party. But we will make people aware of the stand taken by us on the Lok Pal issue."

Elaborating, Bhushan said: "The Team Anna would create awareness among people on issues like: why did we take the stand that we took on the Jan [people's] Lok Pal bill issue? What was the Government's response? What did other parties do? Will democracy be allowed to function like this in the county? Isn't there a need for involving the people in our democracy and if so, how to involve the people in the democratic process."

Bhushan announced that Team Anna was planning to organise a huge public rally on January 26, India's Republic Day, in New Delhi to deliberate on how to make people partners in the decision-making.