Pune:
Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare has said that his team does not agree with the remarks on Kashmir made by one its core members, Prashant Bhushan.
"We don't subscribe to Prashant's views on Kashmir," said the 74-year-old Gandhian. "Kashmir is an integral part of India," he added.
Mr Bhushan, a lawyer-activist, was attacked at the Supreme Court on Wednesday by three men who say they belong to an organization called the Bhagat Singh Kranti Sena. They said they wanted to punish Mr Bhushan for suggesting that a referendum should be held in Kashmir to decide its political future.
Mr Bhushan said after he was beaten up that he stands by his comments. The three men who assaulted him have been arrested. (
Activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan attacked at his chambers in Supreme Court |
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Mr Bhushan and his father, Shanti, who has served as Law Minister in the past, have been crucial members of Anna's inner circle. In April, they were nominated by Anna to the drafting committee of the Lokpal Bill, which paired five activists with an equal number of ministers. The committee met nine times to decide how the Lokpal - an independent agency - should be selected, and what sort of powers it should have. Unable to find common ground, the activists and the ministers delivered separate versions of the Bill.
Anna fasted again in August - empowered by the support of lakhs of Indians - and prevailed upon Parliament to agree in principle to three features that he deems essential for the Lokpal. His team has now warned the Congress that unless the Lokpal Bill is passed in the winter session of parliament, Anna and his activists will campaign against the Congress in key elections for states like Uttar Pradesh.