New Delhi:
Team Anna begins its campaign in poll-bound states from today. The Gandhian activist's associates say their campaign is neither against nor in favour of any party. Instead, they add, it will revolve around "important" issues like corruption, Lokpal and land acquisition.
"There will be no campaign against any party, neither will we support any party in the polls. We will highlight the issues of land acquisition, Lokpal and Lokayukta - which have been sidelined by all the parties that are contesting elections," prominent Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal said at a press conference on Friday.
The team begins their tour today from Uttarakhand and will move through Uttar Pradesh in February. The other states going to polls are Goa, Manipur and Punjab.
They have also released a four-page campaign pamphlet titled 'Your Vote can Change the History of India'. But a closer look at it reveals that their focus still remains on what they call the "Congress-led Central government's betrayal of the nation" over the Lokpal Bill issue. The pamphlet targets Rahul Gandhi, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati, questioning them on the issues of Lokpal and land acquisition. Towards the end, it also has questions for the BJP, and all parties in general. It ends with a note that insists that "this campaign has no allegiance with any political party."
"On the basis of religion and castes, the parties want to win votes and leave no stone unturned to use money and muscle power. They don't focus on real issues," senior lawyer and Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan told newsmen on Friday.
"During our campaign, we have questions prepared for major political parties and separate questions for Rahul Gandhi and Mayawati," he added.
Kejriwal said all the political parties are the "same". "Our fight is not against any party but we will urge people to vote for policies and rules rather than a candidate."
Asked if the India Against Corruption movement is petering out, Kejriwal denied the speculation.
He said that IAC will not launch a joint campaign with yoga guru Swami Ramdev and hinted that Anna Hazare may join the campaign if his health allows.
"If the discourse in the coming election is changed and people vote for change - that is participatory democracy, we will consider it as our victory," Kejriwal said in reply to a question.
Charging the Congress-led government of "betraying the nation", Kejriwal said, "The government has fooled Parliament and the entire nation by not letting the Lokpal Bill be cleared in Parliament." (With IANS Inputs)
"There will be no campaign against any party, neither will we support any party in the polls. We will highlight the issues of land acquisition, Lokpal and Lokayukta - which have been sidelined by all the parties that are contesting elections," prominent Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal said at a press conference on Friday.
The team begins their tour today from Uttarakhand and will move through Uttar Pradesh in February. The other states going to polls are Goa, Manipur and Punjab.
They have also released a four-page campaign pamphlet titled 'Your Vote can Change the History of India'. But a closer look at it reveals that their focus still remains on what they call the "Congress-led Central government's betrayal of the nation" over the Lokpal Bill issue. The pamphlet targets Rahul Gandhi, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati, questioning them on the issues of Lokpal and land acquisition. Towards the end, it also has questions for the BJP, and all parties in general. It ends with a note that insists that "this campaign has no allegiance with any political party."
"On the basis of religion and castes, the parties want to win votes and leave no stone unturned to use money and muscle power. They don't focus on real issues," senior lawyer and Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan told newsmen on Friday.
"During our campaign, we have questions prepared for major political parties and separate questions for Rahul Gandhi and Mayawati," he added.
Kejriwal said all the political parties are the "same". "Our fight is not against any party but we will urge people to vote for policies and rules rather than a candidate."
Asked if the India Against Corruption movement is petering out, Kejriwal denied the speculation.
He said that IAC will not launch a joint campaign with yoga guru Swami Ramdev and hinted that Anna Hazare may join the campaign if his health allows.
"If the discourse in the coming election is changed and people vote for change - that is participatory democracy, we will consider it as our victory," Kejriwal said in reply to a question.
Charging the Congress-led government of "betraying the nation", Kejriwal said, "The government has fooled Parliament and the entire nation by not letting the Lokpal Bill be cleared in Parliament." (With IANS Inputs)
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