By S R N

The split of the Anna Hazare –led crusade against corruption was inevitable and just a matter of time. Finally it happened with no much spat between the rival factions.  Not surprising, the split did not make much ripples either in the social sphere or political world. In fact, a  year back in my story “Anna’s corruption crusade being hijacked?(https://apnnews.com/2011/08/22/anna%E2%80%99s-corruption-crusade-being-hijacked/)” I had foreseen the ultimate fate.

With the split of Team Anna, the simpleton from Rale Siddhi is made to bite the dust with the political aspiration of shrewd bureaucrats and ambitious lawyers. The recent reactions of Anna after the meeting of the so called “Team Änna” and his reiteration while addressing media persons after a meeting with Kejriwal on the issue  that he would neither enter politics nor would  allow the political party to use his name or his image are indicative of the fact  that  Anna has realised, though belatedly, the evil designs of selfish and ambitious people.  Further Anna assertion of his neither being a part of any political process nor in favour of a political party, is an indication of his lost faith in the political system of the country.

With the assertion of Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev that he is not behind the split of Team Anna, the speculations are wide open of Anna and Baba Ramdev coming together, but who is to benefit from this movement… whether the Common man or some uncommon leaders?????? Only time will tell.

The following is the time line of India Against Corruption (IAC):

Timeline

2010:  Anna Hazare with Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Shanti Bhushan, Prashant Bhushan, Kiran Bedi forms IAC.

Jan 30, 2011: Morcha from Ramlila Maidan to Jantar Mantar demanding immediate passage of Jan Lokpal Bill. IAC’s first Public Event.

April 5-9:  The first fast of Anna for Jan Lokpal Bill at Jantar Mantar. Govt sets up a joint drafting committee comprising ministers and Team Anna members

April to July:  Both Sides i.e. Govt and  Team Anna meet several times, The Joint drafting committee fails to evolve an agreed draft

Aug 16-28: Anna’s indefinite fast at Ramlila Maidan against the Bill introduced in Parliament evokes huge public response forcing Parliament to adopt a resolution promising to address his concerns

Oct 17: Team’s first brush with politics; campaigns against Congress in Hisar LS byelection

Dec 27-29: Anna holds fast at Azad Maidan in Mumbai; Lokpal debated in parliament; fast called off after poor crowd response

July 25 to Aug 3, 2012: Fast by Kejriwal ending in resolve to promote alternative politics as a strategy against corruption

Aug 2: Anna drops hint that team members of his group will join poll fray

Aug 3: Kejriwal vows to uproot corrupt UPA-2

Aug 6: Anna disbands Team saying group has outlived its utility

Sept 17: Kejriwal says 76% people surveyed in a study favour activists forming a political party

Sept 18: Anna says that the survey on Facebook by India Against Corruption (IAC) claiming people’s support to the decision to join politics was incorrect. He said, “If the Facebook survey was correct, why did we meet?”