Anna retorts to Kiran Bedi, wants to stay away from political dirt

Sidestepping questions about Kiran Bedi joining BJP, anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Wednesday said that he wants to stay away from "political dirt" and pledged to intensify his agitation for Janlokpal after the Delhi Assembly polls.

Asked about remarks by Bedi, who was his associate in the agitation for Lokpal Bill, that she had called him but he did not receive it, Hazare said, "This subject has come up again. I don't want to wade into this dirt. I don't want to be involved in such political dirt."

On Bedi joining the BJP, Hazare said, "I don't want to comment on that."

Hazare, who is believed to have stated that the former IPS officer did not consult him before joining BJP, told reporters at his native Ralegan Siddhi village in Ahmednagar district that he will decide the next course of agitation on Janlokpal issue after the Delhi Assembly polls.

"The direction of the agitation will be decided after Delhi Assembly elections," the 77-year-old Gandhian said.

When asked who will be with him during his agitation after Delhi polls, Hazare said, "We will decide that later."

Bedi had on Sunday said that she would meet Hazare and explain her decision to join politics. "I called Annaji on telephone, sometimes he was sleeping and sometimes he was taking rest," Bedi had said.

Hazare, whose India Against Corruption campaign won massive public support in 2011, has not hidden his distaste towards mainstream politics. Both he and Bedi had opposed Arvind Kejriwal's move to launch the Aam Aadmi Party in 2012.