Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: After parting ways from his erstwhile close associates including Arvind Kejriwal, noted anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare on Monday unveiled the future course of action for strengthening the anti-corruption movement started by him.
Speaking to reporters, Anna said, “I have met several retired bureaucrats and nearly 70 ex-servicemen, who had offered to join our anti-corruption movement.”
Anna, while maintaining that his group will continue to brainstorm over the measures needed to boost the anti-graft movement for few more days, said, “We will first train all those who are keen to join us.”
However, he said that the selection of candidates will be done by his core team after proper verification of their past antecedents.
“Those selected will undergo rigorous training for three-four days, which is important for the unity of the team and for achieving the bigger goal of making India a corruption-free nation.”
Anna also stated that the volunteers will be made to understand what is the ultimate goal of this movement and what are we fighting for.
Softening his stand on his former close aid Arvind Kejriwal’s decision to float a political outfit, Anna said, “I will support him if he himself contests the elections since I know his past very well.”
However, he warned that he can’t take responsibility of those who will contest elections under his banner.
He also denied any rift with Arvind Kejriwal and the group led by him.
"There are no differences with Arvind and I have also not stopped anyone fom contesting elections,” he said.
The Gandhian activist, met his supporters and several representatives of social organisations in the national capital yesterday for the first time since he distanced himself from his former close associates on the issue of joining politics, said that he was receiving enormous support for his movement.
“Our volunteers will extensively travel to several states from November to create awareness among the common people about the Lokpal and other important challenges facing the country,” he told reporters.
The 75-year-old activist had earlier made a veiled attack on Kejriwal, saying, "Politics is not the right path to take."
After announcing his decision to split from the Kejriwal-led group recently, Anna has displayed his displeasure over Kejriwal's decision to form a political party. He also warned Kejriwal, once considered Anna's right-hand man, not to use his name or picture in his political campaigns.
The Kejriwal-led group doesn't agree with Anna that joining politics will affect the anti-graft movement. Kejriwal's camp, which also includes Prashant Bhushan and Manish Sisodia among others, is expected to go ahead with their plans to launch a political party on October 2.
First Published: Monday, October 01, 2012, 16:22