Anna’s advice for ex-protege: ‘Don’t attack too many together’

“I have sent six corrupt ministers (in Maharashtra) home but I attacked one minister at a time. One should not attack all of them together. It’s important that (Kejriwal) exercises some restraint while targeting personalities,” Hazare said.

The social activist,who has been busy assembling a new core team for his anti-graft movement,also said he doesn’t see split in Team Anna as a setback. On the contrary,he said,with a new team he would be able to do more work than he did with his former colleagues.

Hazare cited his agitations against Cabinet ministers in the Shiv Sena and Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra in 1999 and 2005 that resulted in resignation of six of them.

During the interaction held at the Padmavati Temple Complex,Hazare also admitted he was opposed to the idea of holding the fast in Mumbai in December 2011 for Janlokpal. He said he was of the opinion that it was too early for him to go on a fast as he had not completely recovered from his previous fasts,but went along with it as IAC (India Against Corruption) members were keen on it. The planned three-day protest attracted lacklustre response and had to be ended on the second day itself after Hazare’s health deteriorated.

“I was telling them that we should not hold another fast so quickly. But they (IAC Mumbai associates) had prepared for the fast and I had to sit. Due to this my health worsened… Mumbai workers were responsible for the preparations. I wasn’t aware if they were well prepared to hold that protest. I went and sat on the fast on a short notice,” said Hazare.

Asked whether his associates in Team Anna should have persuaded the Mumbai workers against holding the protest,he said: “It was an error — wo kami ho gayi.”

However,he clarified,“I never felt there was any personal motive behind their asking me to sit on the fast. They might have thought that there were agitations in Delhi,so now we should do one in Mumbai. But it was not right to go on another fast so early.”

Hazare also reiterated and explained his decision to not hold any fast-unto-deaths in the future. “It took four to five months for my body to recover from the recent fast (held in Delhi). I feel my body and life belongs to this country and hence the time that was wasted in recovery was a loss to the country. If my repeated fasts result in loss of time for the country and the people,then it’s not right to hold such fasts,” said the 74-year-old.

Hazare repeated that he would not support Kejriwal’s party but those candidates which were of sound character and clean past.

Asked if he felt the absence of his former colleagues in Team Anna while relaunching the movement,Hazare said: “I do not feel their absence. I have never cared for success and failure in my life. So why should I worry about them? I will keep doing my duty.”

Hazare said his confidence also stemmed from the fact that as many as hundred retired brigadiers,colonels,IAS and IPS officials have expressed their willingness to join his movement and his office had received lakhs of letters from people across the country who are ready to work for the movement full time. “When I start my countrywide tour,I am sure crores of people will come out and support me,” said Hazare.

Hazare also revealed that former Army chief V K Singh will be accompanying him on his nationwide tour,adding that he had a good opinion of the retired general. During his Army days,he said,he too had fought with several seniors like Singh. “I fought with at least 11 officers. But they couldn’t do anything as I never broke any rules and behaved as per law.”