Team Anna takes political plunge; ‘Street-to-Parl movement’ starts

“We will have to throw this government out. It is a long fight. This is not a party. It will be a movement from the streets to Parliament.

Will not support floating of party: Hegde

“Parliament has to be purified. There will be no high command. People will decide the candidates and they will fund it,” Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal announced to the cheering supporters.

He said they will not draft manifesto in air-conditioned rooms but would go around the country to know about the difficulties of people.

Today’s declaration by Team Anna marks a transformation of the civil society movement which started as an anti-corruption crusade 16 months ago for a Lokpal Bill and ending up with plans for a political run.

The fast,which was ended by former Army chief Gen V K Singh giving cocunut water to Hazare and others,was called off in the light of government steadfastly refusing to enter into a dialogue with them on their demand for Lokpal or a special investigation team of retired judges to probe allegations against 15 Union Ministers.

Nitish Kumar welcomes Team Anna’s decision

Endorsing Kejriwal’s declaration for a political alternative,Hazare said he will not launch a party or fight elections.

“I will go around the country for the next one and half years to give an alternative. We have another two years left (for the elections) and I will awaken the people. I am confident that people will support the alternative,” he said.

Justifying formation of a political outfit,Hazare said that earlier when they started the movement political parties taunted them saying you contest elections and come to Parliament.

Throw corrupt out: Gen VK Singh

“Now when we announce that we are taking the political plunge the same parties are feeling threatened,” he said.

Though Kejriwal did not use the word political party in relation to launch of the movement,at another place he said that if a party has to be launched,then they have to decide what structure it should have.

“Our aim is not to take power but to go inside Parliament and transfer power to villages,cities and to the people. It does not mean an end to street protests. The movement will continue inside Parliament as well as streets,” he said.

Raising the question as to where the money would come from,Kejriwal answered himself saying “money is not needed. People will give money.”

The highlight of the day was former Army chief V K Singh’s address to the rally when he said governance has come to an end and has become directionless.

“I thank Anna Hazare and others for heeding to our appeal and ending the fast. Other than the big issue of corruption,the issues which are concerning the nation are black money,law and order,weakening rupee and inflation. There is no governance and it has become directionless,” he said.

Hazare said he was encouraged by the fact that people like Gen V K Singh have extended support to the civil society movement.

In his speech,Kejriwal said they would not go for the “movement” if the Congress passed Lokpal Bill,provide for ‘right to recall’ and ‘right to reject’ in the next two and half years.

“We are not here for power. We want Lokpal Bill to be passed. If all these are implemented,we will take back our decision,” he said.

Kejriwal said the aim of the movement was not to capture power but to ensure its decentralisation.

He also appealed to people who are “suffocated” in parties like Congress and BJP to join the movement.

He said the movement is not for just winning elections but to change the system and challenge existing political parties on each and every step.

“We are challening the high command of parties,if you have the guts to leave the selection of candidates to people,show it,” he said.

Gopal Rai,another Team Anna member who was fasting,said they will not leave any way to fight the system. “If needed,we will fight for Parliament,” he said.

Congress says Team Anna trying to save face

Highlights

* Team Anna announces starting up of ‘movement’.

* “This is not a party. It will be a movement from street-to-Parliament. There will be no high command. People will decide the candidates and they will fund it,” Arvind Kejriwal said.

* Team Anna will put up candidates in the 2014 elections.

* Anna Hazare said he will neither launch a political party nor contest elections. “I will go around the country for the next two years. We have another two years left (for the elections) and I will awaken the people,” he said.

* Arvind Kejriwal says we want to clean up politics

* Kejriwal says if govt brings Lokpal bill,Right to Reject and Recall and law governing Gram Sabhas we will not join politics

* Lok Pal bill not listed in the business of monsoon session of Parliament: Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal.

* Team Anna party will contest polls without money: Kejriwal

* Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says he will always remain a political.

* Ex-Army chief V K Singh on Team Anna dais

* Anna Hazare says political establishment is scared of Team Anna power.

* Hazare announces that the fast has been called off

* Anna Hazare should think hundred times before formation of political party

* Digvijay Singh tweets: Why Kejriwal has to sing? They could have called Kailash Kher or even Anupam Kher. Why Kejriwal?

* I think they want to chase away their few remaining followers: Digvijay

* Digvijay: Anna is simple man,but he is surrounded by extremely ambitious people.

* Santosh Hegde: Will not support floating of party by Anna Hazare.