Hazare disagrees with Bhushan on Kashmir

Ralegan Siddhi (Maharashtra), Oct 14 (IANS) Distancing himself from lawyer Prashant Bhushan's controversial statement on plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir, Anna Hazare Friday said Team Anna is not in agreement with his views and the state is an integral part of India.

'Kashmir is an integral part of India. Bhushan has given his personal opinion and Team Anna is not in agreement with the views,' Hazare told mediapersons.

Hazare pointed out that he had visited some of the most sensitive areas of the state without any security, since 'Kashmir belongs to my country and nobody can stop us from moving freely in the state'.

He said for the cause of Kashmir, he was ready to do anything. 'Sir kata sakte hain, par jhuka sakte nahin,' he said.

'I am ready to sacrifice my life anytime for Kashmir as it belongs to India and will always remain with my country,' Hazare asserted.

Bhushan, who has been campaigning with Hazare against corruption, had favoured a plebiscite in Kashmir. He was bashed up in his chamber in Supreme Court in Delhi Wednesday by a youth of the rightwing Sri Ram Sene for this statement.

'Team Anna was formed only for the Janlokpal Bill, corruption-free India and right to reject, recall, decentralisation. We don't talk about anything other than this,' Hazare said.

Significantly, Hazare's views came in the wake of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray's statement in Thursday's Dopahar Ka Saamna in which he lauded the attacks on Bhushan.

Posted in: Politics