Ramdev: See Anna,Team separately

I think it is time we evaluated Anna and Team Anna separately.

A day after his triumphant appearance on Team Annas fast stage at Jantar Mantar,Ramdev described Anna Hazare as his natural ally but his team as a motley group of leftists,rightists and I dont want to say what else.

I think it is time we evaluated Anna and Team Anna separately. In terms of strength of character,ideology,principles,our belief in simple living,our focus on how to save the country,Anna and me are natural allies. See the consonance in our views on naming people. Both of us are the same inside out. Team Annas views and outlook are different. They are a group of people from diverse ideologies, Ramdev told The Indian Express over the phone from Ahmedabad.

Ramdev has a long history of discord with some members of Team Anna. He was the first to criticise the inclusion of the father-son duo of Shanti and Prasant Bhusan in the Lokpal drafting committee. In April,when Hazare announced he and Ramdev would run their anti-corruption campaigns from a common platform,Prasant and Medha Patkar,both core committee members of India Against Corruption,expressed reservations about the alliance.

And when Team Anna was initially refused permission by the police to stage their protest at Jantar Mantar,Ramdev offered them Ramlila Maidan,which he had booked,but was met with a silent snub.

However,he had the last laugh on Friday 8211; it was he who brought crowds to Jantar Mantar,the venue of the Team Anna fast that had been nearly deserted till then.

I do not like to compare the two movements but an initiative like this is successful only when those leading it have a credible record of meaningful contribution to society and whether they have the ability to connect to people. I do not want to talk about whether Team Anna meets these requirements, he said.

When asked whether he would invite Team Anna on the stage for his agitation,he said: Anna Hazare will definitely be there.

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He refused to divulge details of the discussions he had with Hazare at Maharashtra Sadan Friday night. 8216;We discussed the future of the country,the future of the movement. I will disclose the rest at an appropriate time, he said.