Distancing himself from Prashant Bhushan's views on Jammu and Kashmir, Anna Hazare Friday said they will decide whether the lawyer-activist should continue in the team even as the Gandhian's associates later sought to tweak his remarks saying he did not say so.
"Woh aage jaake hum log tay karenge, rakhna (hai) nahi rakhna (hai) (We will decide later whether he will be in the team or not)," he told reporters in his native Ralegan Siddhi when asked whether Bhushan, a key aide of Hazare in his fight for a strong Lokpal law, will remain part of Team Anna.
"Whatever views he has articulated, that is not right," he said, two days after Bhushan was attacked by three youths of a right-wing in his chamber in New Delhi for advocating plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir.
As Hazare's comments triggered a fresh controversy, activist Arvind Kejriwal addressed a press conference in New Delhi in which he sought to say that Hazare did not mean to say that the lawyer was removed from the team.
"He is an integral part of the team. He is a very respected citizen who has worked in several areas including environment and human rights. He has played a crucial role in the anti-corruption movement also," Kejriwal said.
"I spoke to Anna over telephone. He told me that he did not say that. What he told me was that the committee will decide who should be in or out," he said.
A meeting of Team Anna's core committee was held in UP's Noida during which a resolution saying Kashmir is an integral part of India and the "complex" problem should be solved through peaceful discussions, was adopted.
However, Hazare, Bhushan and Bedi did not attend the meeting. Bedi is in Amsterdam while Bhushan has left for the US.
Prashant's father Shanti Bhushan attended the meeting.
Kejriwal claimed that he had shown the resolution to Bhushan last evening and during his conversation, the lawyer told him that he has no problem with the movement taking a stand on this though he has his personal views.
Hazare said, "Bhushan's statement (on Kashmir) is not the views of the team. He has never asked the team. These are his personal views. The team is not responsible for the comments. We are not in agreement with him."
"We didn't like this (statement). It is not our view," he said.
Hazare said Kashmir is an integral part of the country and he would do whatever he could do for the state. "Kashmir is an integral part of the country and it will remain so and we will have to do whatever we have to ensure this. This mindless argument on the issue should stop." The 74-year-Gandhian said Bhushan should seek permission for airing views on behalf of the team. "But for personal comments, what is the need for permission," he said.
Thursday, Bedi said the remarks made by Bhushan were his personal views. "This is Bhushan's personal view. I am for better governance and people integration of Jammu and Kashmir," Bedi, who is currently in Amsterdam, had said.
Activist Swami Agnivesh, who was earlier associated with Team Anna, said dissenting voices should not be silenced by the use of force though he was for upholding Jammu and Kashmir's integration with India as full and final.
