New Delhi, Sept 1 : Civil servant-turned-social activist Arvind Kejriwal has hit out at critics saying that it was an absurd allegation to say that the team is manipulating Gandhian activist Anna Hazare.
In an interview to Shruthijith KK of Economic Times, Kejriwal said: "This government has tried to discredit the campaign for the past few months. First, they targeted individuals . They targeted the Bhushans. They tried to discredit us personally. Nothing stuck. They tried to discredit Anna also and it backfired very badly.
"Now they are trying to show that Anna is a good man but his team is bad. Anna is a victim of this team. I just want to place on record that all the decisions are taken by Anna.
"He is a fiercely independent person. He has been fighting against corruption for the past 20 years. This was his 16th fast. Who was using him in the last 15 fasts? This is an absurd allegation."
On Lalu Yadav's demand for Dalit representation in Lokpal, Kejriwal said: "That is a very interesting point, though off hand I can't comment on it. I would assume that it would follow the same model as the other commissions such as the CVC, Central Information Commission, National Human Rights Commission , Election Commission, etc... I don't think there is a quota anywhere. There is a quota for the staff, but not for the members. I don't know how it would be implemented. "
Kejriwal promised that the Dalits would be the biggest beneficiaries of Lokpal Bill.
"As far as Dalits are concerned, the movement has become a victim of political manipulations. It has been projected that we are against the Constitution, and Babasaheb Ambedkar and hence against the Dalits. It was a completely mischievous move.
"First of all, the Jan Lokpal Bill does not talk about any Constitutional amendments. It works within the framework of the Constitution.
"Secondly, we have never said anything against Babasaheb Ambedkar.
"Thirdly, Dalits are the biggest victims of corruption. If there is a law that protects from corruption, Dalits would be its biggest beneficiaries. "
Kejriwal believes the Lokpal Bill will become law by the Winter Session of Parliament.
"Normally standing committees take three months to work on a Bill. Singhvi said the other day that they will try and finish it in two months. The winter session of Parliament will also start by then. So we hope that it can be passed during the winter session."
On Anna's recent 12-day-long fast, Kejriwal said, it was only the beginning.
"It is a victory in many ways, but also a reminder that it is a beginning of a journey. It is a part of the process. We asked that strong and robust Bill should be presented in Parliament. That was the demand."
When it was pointed out that the demand was that it should be passed by the Parliament by August 30, Kejriwal said: "Yes. We thought the government ought to respond to the mass upsurge that was there in the beginning. This is what democracy is for-to respond to people's demands.
"But with each passing day, it became clearer that there was a huge disconnect between the establishment and the people.
"Secondly, the government seemed to be so insensitive .
"Thirdly, there was leadership crisis. Fourthly, internal power struggles within the Congress. All these factors together made it very clear that it would be a long journey and may take a longer time.
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