Team Anna to reach out to poll-bound states first, re-launch agitation for Jan Lokpal 3rd time before winter session of Parliament-13/9/11

13 Sep, 2011, 02.40AM IST, Rohit ChandavarkarRohit Chandavarkar,ET Bureau

Team Anna to reach out to poll-bound states first, re-launch agitation for Jan Lokpal before winter session of Parliament/Anna to support non-Cong, non-BJP front with 'clean' leaders


RALEGAN SIDDHI: The core committee of Team Anna has decided to intensify its agitation for citizen's charter and other demands in the states that will go to polls in coming months and Anna will take time out in coming weeks to travel and strengthen his network in Maharashtra and other states. He will re-launch his agitation for Jan Lokpal just before the winter session of Parliament.

The core committee held a two-day session in Anna's village Ralegan Siddhi in Ahmednagar district in western Maharashtra over the weekend. Apart from 44 members of the core committee, hundreds of supporters of Anna Hazare thronged the village just to meet him. People from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh were seen waiting for hours outside the Padmawati temple complex where Anna is residing.

Core committee member Arvind Kejriwal said various important issues, such as the future course of action, strategy against the government attempts to thwart Team Anna's campaign, setting up of network in states where agitations are being planned, legal consultations and media planning, were discussed at the meet.

Kejriwal said Anna's campaign has received huge response from all over the country, but now they will take up the work of registration of all those who want to be part of fresh campaign. The meet also discussed the issue of money collection by some people in Anna's name at various places during his last hunger agitation.

He said some supporters of Anna in their villages or towns may have indulged in unauthorised money collection, so Team Anna will not be responsible for any collections. He said all members of the team will declare assets and, in case there are charges of corruption against them, those will be investigated by retired judges nominated by Team Anna.

Speaking to reporters, Anna said the issue of "right to recall" an elected representative will be taken up by his team as the issue was debated in the core committee meet in detail.