Anna to restructure core team by 'giving representation to all sections of society'

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Anna Hazare on Monday said he will restructure his core committee, giving representation to all sections of society.

The anti-corruption activist also slammed the government for trying to divide the team. Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh, meanwhile, attacked Hazare, saying he was overestimating the Jan Lokpal bill.

"We will take all sections in the core committee... Dalits, Muslims, Adivasis and all others. Nobody should complain that they were not given a chance," Hazare said in his village.

The restructuring comes after there were personal attacks on some key members, including Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Prashant Bhushan.

"Even youth will be represented. Youth's power in the committee is extremely necessary. Youths from different communities will be picked up for the committee," Hazare added.

Clues about the rejig were found in reports of blogger, journalist Parulekar clashing with Hazare.

Parulekar had claimed that the veteran Gandhian wanted to remove 'undemocratic and fascist' Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi, Prashant Bhushan and 'their pawns' from his core group.

The fallout between Hazare and Parulekar came as the former claimed that he never ever spoke to a journalist (being mentioned in reports) or met him on the issue of re-structuring of Core Committee and forming a new Pan-Indian organisation with immediate effect.

Also continuing an attack was Digvijay Singh.

"I think he is overestimating the Jan Lokpal bill. Corruption can only be removed if there is a comprehensive strategy by the judiciary, bureaucracy, police and government," the Congress leader told reporters in Delhi.

"Just passing the law will not help any one. Corruption will not be removed only by Lokpal," he said.

Meanwhilw, Hazare recalled that when the Core Committee was formed there were complaints from some sections they were not not given representation.

"That Committee was for two-and-a-half months. But the Committee that we will form now will be for a much longer period," he added.

Hazare said he and his team will not be cowed down by anyone and challenged the government to show any evidence of misconduct or irregularities committed by his team members.