Swami Agnivesh livid at Team Anna for running away from 'anshan'

New Delhi, Aug 3 (ANI): Social activist Swami Agnivesh on Friday took potshots at Team Anna over its decision to end the indefinite fast and focus on political plans, saying they have hurt the sentiments of the general public by leaving their 'anshan' midway.

Swami Agnivesh said Team Anna has broken the sanctity of ' anshan' as a method of protest.

"They ran away...I am pained that Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal and others have broken the sanctity of 'Anshan' (fast) as a method of protest. Anshan is always the last option," Agnivesh said.

"Calling off the fast and looking at an alternative political option has hurt the dignity of the fast that was introduced by Mahatma Gandhi. They should apologise to the country to have used the sentiments of the country," he added.

Team Anna will call off their indefinite hunger strike at 5 p.m. today after nine days of fasting.

Veteran social activist Anna Hazare made an announcement in this regard on Thursday.

Addressing the gathering at the Jantar Mantar here, Hazare said he and his team are going to end their fast on Friday, and added that his aides want feedback within 48 hours on whether they should form a political party.

Asserting that power should rest with the people in a true democracy, Hazare yesterday reiterated that there is nothing wrong in forming a political party.

Hazare said power should be with the people of the country.

"In a true democracy, power should be in the hands of the people. The power must be given to the public. Village land, village water belongs to the village. There is a government in Delhi, but in the village, we are the government. Village has the right over coal, water in the village," he said.

Hazare asked his supporters to dislodge those leaders, who don't give in to people's demand.

He, however, said that he himself would not enter politics.

"I will not get into politics. I will fight from the outside. You have to think who goes into a party. Do they have a good character? Such people only should be given a ticket. If you want to change the nation, form a party. But see who is going into that party. How will you monitor them? You have to think about that," said Hazare.

"The people who ask for your votes, whether they are right or wrong, should be monitored," he added.

The 75-year-old social activist also reiterated that the government is not serious on bringing a strong anti-graft bill to combat rampant corruption in the country.

The government, however, hit back at Team Anna, saying they have always been power-hungry and must contest elections to prove its claim of representing the will of the people.

The standoff between the UPA and Team Anna intensified after the latter demanded the setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of retired judges of Supreme and High Courts, to probe charges of corruption against 15 cabinet ministers, including the Prime Minister. (ANI)