Anna disowns Prashant Bhushan’s Kashmir remark

Anna Hazare today distanced himself from Prashant Bhushan on the issue of plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir, saying it was not the team's stand and the lawyer-activist was airing his personal views.

"Prashant Bhushan's statement (on Kashmir) is not the views of the team. He has never asked the team. These are his personal views. The team is not responsible for the comments. We are not in agreement with him," Hazare told reporters here.

"We didn't like this (statement). It is not our view," he said.

Bhushan had triggered a controversy by supporting the idea of holding plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir following which he was attacked by three youths belonging to a right-wing group two days ago.

Hazare said Kashmir is an integral part of the country and he would do whatever he could do for the state. "Kashmir is an integral part of the country and it will remain so and we will have to do whatever we have to ensure this. This mindless argument on the issue should stop."

The 74-year-Gandhian said Prashant Bhushan should seek permission for airing views on behalf of the team. "But for personal comments, what is the need for permission," he said.

Asked whether Prashant Bhushan, a key member of the team who was also a member of the joint committee to draft Lokpal bill, will be removed from the team, Hazare said it has to be decided later.

"The points he has made are not good. We will decide in future whether we will keep him or not," he said.

He made these comments shortly after meeting noted RTI activist and his close associate Arvind Kejriwal, who came to his village to discuss the recent attack on his supporters and noted lawyer Prashant Bhushan for his provocative remarks on Kashmir.

It is to be noted lawyer Prashant Bhushan was attacked inside his chamber in the Supreme Court on Thursday by three youths allegedly belonging to Sri Ram Sene and Bhagat Singh Kranti Sena for his allegedly provocative remarks on Kashmir.

Prashant Bhushan had recently suggested in Varanasi that a plebiscite could be held for finding a perfect political solution for Kashmir.

Meanwhile, Team Anna members have voiced their concerns for bringing a special new law with tougher penalty to deal with sponsored violence in view of attacks on Prashant Bhushan and the Gandhian’s supporters in police presence.

Five supporters of Anna Hazare were on Thursday attacked by some workers of the Bhagat Singh Kranti Sena outside the Patiala House court here.