Attacks on Team Anna aimed at diverting attention: Kejriwal

Social activist and member of Team Anna, Arvind Kejriwal, on Wednesday said that the attacks on Gandhian Anna and members of his team were aimed at diverting their attention from the core issue of Jan Lokpal Bill.

Kejriwal was not merely referring to the flinging of a 'chappal' at him by a Congress party worker in Lucknow on Tuesday, but also to the sustained tirade by certain political leaders, particularly Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh.

Addressing a press conference at Gorakhpur, Kejriwal said, "The game of these politicians is to divert our attention from the real issue of Jan Lokpal Bill and we are not going to allow that. We are only focused in ensuring that the Jan Lokpal Bill is introduced and passed in the coming winter session of Parliament."

Kejriwal said that Anna Hazare had been repeatedly advising people not to get provoked by any act of their antagonists, who basically do not want the Jan Lokpal Bill to come into effect.

"The Anna movement was bound to be attacked from all sides because the corrupt establishment is scared of the movement," Kejriwal said.

On the oft repeated charge that Team Anna was turning political, Kejriwal shot back saying, "Well, there is no denying that we are talking in political terms because our mission is to introduce reforms in the governance. That does not mean that we turning into politicians."

Kejriwal made it loud and clear that none of the Team Anna members had any political ambitions. "Our goal is to see that the Jan Lokpal Bill becomes a reality during the coming winter session of Parliament," he said.

Earlier, during the day, Team Anna visited Faizabad, where they addressed a meeting. Similar meetings were held in Mau and Ghazipur before Kejriwal and others depart for Delhi later in the night.