By IANS,
Ralegan-Siddhi/New Delhi : Even as Anna Hazare Friday termed lawyer Prashant Bhushan’s statement on plebiscite in Kashmir as “wrong” and hinted “it could lead to his removal in future”, Team Anna was quick to deny any rift in the campaign against corruption.
“What Bhushan said is wrong. Bhushan has given his personal opinion and Team Anna is not in agreement with his views,” Hazare told reporters in his village Ralegan-Siddhi in Maharashtra, adding “We will decide in future whether we will keep him or not.”
In Delhi, Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal denied any rift in the anti-graft campaign and said Hazare’s comments were “misinterpreted”.
“Hazare never said Prashant Bhushan should be removed from the core committee,” Kejriwal told reporters, adding, “Bhushan is an important part of India Against Corruption and would remain in the core committee.”
Bhushan, who has been campaigning with Hazare against corruption, had in a statement in Varanasi two weeks ago favoured a plebiscite in Kashmir.
“I believe Kashmir is a part of India, and will be, and we must do everything for keeping it intact,” said Hazare.
Hazare said for the cause of Kashmir he was ready to do anything. “Sir kata sakte hain, par jhuka sakte nahin,” he said.
Hazare, who is leading an anti-corruption campaign, said Team Anna was only for the Jan Lokpal bill and ending corruption.
“This is not the view of Team Anna which was formed only for the Jan Lokpal bill, corruption free India, right to reject/recall and decentralisation. We don’t talk about anything other than this,” he said.
Hazare also slammed Bhushan for not clarifying that the views on Kashmir were his personal views.
“I will tell Prashant Bhushan, on such issues if you give your personal views, don’t give views on behalf of the team without permission of the team,” he said.
Bhushan was bashed up in his chamber in the Supreme Court complex in Delhi Wednesday by three youths – one of the Sri Ram Sene and two of the Bhagat Singh Kranti Sena – for his statement on Kashmir.
A Delhi court Friday released on bail the three youths accused of roughing up Bhushan.
The three – Inder Verma, Vishnu Gupta and Tejender Pal Singh Bagga – were sent to one day’s judicial custody Thursday.
Verma, who had assaulted Bhushan, was arrested by police Wednesday while the two others surrendered Thursday.
Soon after his release, Verma issued a statement that the Sri Ram Sene welcomed Gandhian Anna Hazare and Kiran Bedi’s stand on the issue.
“They (Hazare and Bedi) did not support the statement of Bhushan who spoke in favour of Pakistan,” the release said.
Kejriwal welcomed Congress statement that the proposed Lokpal should be a constitutional body but said the party should first get the bill passed and then bring a constitutional amendment as it did not have a simple majority in parliament.