New Delhi:
NDTV Indian of the Year 2011 Anna Hazare has taken a vow of silence and so his note of thanks was indeed that. A hand-written note. He also wrote an answer to a question many of his detractors have asked in recent days - why not join politics? Anna Hazare, who received his award in his village Ralegaon Siddhi, said, "I have no intention of joining politics at the age of 75."
(Watch)Neither will the man Anna shares his award with join politics. Arvind Kejriwal, Anna Hazare's close aide in his campaign against corruption and also winner of the NDTV Indian of the Year 2011 award, was emphatic when he said, "I can speak for myself, I will never stand for elections."
Both Anna and Mr Kejriwal said they were not "anti-Congress". "We don't oppose or support any party, we just want the Lokpal Bill to come. The Congress is in power, so the responsibility for getting the Lokpal Bill rests with them," Mr Kejriwal said.
(Watch)His silence did not deter Mr Hazare from communicating that if the Bill was not passed in the next session of Parliament, "We will have to agitate again."
Anna Hazare is this year's NDTV Indian of the Year for galvanising an entire nation with his anti-corruption campaign. Arvind Kejriwal has fought alongside Mr Hazare.
Mr Kejriwal dedicated his award to the everyday Indian and to Anna Hazare. "People feel now they can provoke change," he said. In a hall filled with politicians and law makers, Mr Kejriwal stressed that civil society had a role to play in the laws of the land. "Laws should not be thrust upon us. People are stake-holders. Take what they want into account," he said.
In the audience, senior central minister Ambika Soni said, "Whatever we have to do has to be done within the framework of our Constitution. Mr Kejriwal countered from the stage, "We have not done anything that's outside the Constitution."
He also suggested that, "Good people should join politics, but other good people should stay out of the government."
Mr Kejriwal said Team Anna was happy to meet senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for dialogue; happy to meet any other party.
But if Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh hoped for a message from Anna for all the ones that he has sent the Gandhian's way, he'll have to wait. Anna pointed out he had taken a vow of silence and so it was "not good to speak to anyone."