Journalism of Courage
Even as Anna Hazare today reiterated his decision to share the stage with Ramdev,team member Prashant Bhushan insisted there was no plan to share a platform with the yoga guru. Meanwhile,Medha Patkar said the final call would have to be taken by the core committee.
Mufti Shamoon Qasmi,who was expelled from the core committee during yesterdays meeting,said today that Team Anna members charged Hazare with bypassing them while making an announcement on an alliance with Ramdev last week.
Qasmi claimed that while Bhushan wanted to fight elections from Himachal Pradesh,Hazare was opposed to the idea. Core committee member Kumar Vishwas denied the exchange.
Hazare denied any rift within the team,even as he contradicted Bhushans statement that there would be no common platform with Ramdev. We have our separate programmes. Whenever we meet during the tour,we will share the dais.We shall stand together, he said.
I was not a part of the decision to join Ramdev. Though the leader is allowed some concessions,the final call on the alliance is that of the core committee. Moreover,there are allegations of financial irregularities against Ramdevs trust, said Medha Patkar.
Justice Santosh Hegde said he was in favour of garnering every bit of support in fighting corruption. Ramdev seems to be genuine in the fight,so there is no harm in joining hands, he said.
