Kiran Bedi with Anna Hazare during his 2013 fast
Anti-corruption campaigner Anna Hazare has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of reneging on his promise to fight corruption and said he will launch a campaign against the BJP-led government.
"It is clear that PM Modi is not serious about fighting corruption. In eight months, the government has not given any priority to corruption and there has been no progress on the Lokpal law. We are gathering people for a movement," the 77-year-old Gandhian said today, speaking to NDTV at his village Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra.
As he spoke about gathering a new team, he refused to comment on Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kejriwal, the two most prominent faces of the former "Team Anna" that was at the core of the 2011 India Against Corruption campaign.
"Ekla Chalo Re. I don't need Kiran Bedi or Arvind Kejriwal. I have the public with me. Why should I be upset at not having a team?" he said.
Mr Hazare distanced himself from both leaders, who are now the main rivals in poll-bound Delhi.
"Let Delhi decide whether to choose Kiran or Arvind. Why drag me into the muck?" Anna Hazare said.
Anna Hazare has reportedly disapproved of Kiran Bedi's move to join the BJP and had refused to take her calls earlier this month. He, however, denied it today, saying, "Why should she call me? Who am I?"
Both Anna and Kiran Bedi had opposed Arvind Kejriwal's move to launch the Aam Aadmi Party in 2012.
"Any Indian citizen can contest elections. The Constitution does not say that a person has to subscribe to any party or view. It is because of party politics that the country has suffered," Anna Hazare said.