New office, new team: Anna Hazare to resurrect stir

In a move drenched with symbolism, veteran Gandhian Anna Hazare will kick-start his proposed nationwide tour next January from the historic Gandhi Maidan in Patna, from where late activist Jai Prakash Narayan had started his historic movement in the 1970s.

Hazare, who was in Pune on Wednesday for his post- operative follow up at a city based eye hospital, declared that his New Delhi office would be finalised within the next three days. Sources close to Hazare said that he will be accompanied by former army general VK Singh, former IPS officer Kiran Bedi and his new core team.

Many see this move by Hazare as a move to resurrect his movement post the severance of ties between him and Magsaysay awardee Arvind Kejriwal. Also, Hazare’s closeness with Singh and Bedi have been on the rise post the split.

Hazare told DNA that his New Delhi office will be ready within the next few days. To begin with, the office will be running from the office of Bedi but post that it will be moving to its own premises soon.

“We will also be connecting all our offices across the country through video conferencing and would be keeping in touch with the volunteers across the country,” he said.

He added that the office in Ralegan Siddhi will also be enlarged soon. When asked about the possible members of his
new core team, he said that the details will be revealed later.

On the question of former president APJ Abdul Kalam joining his movement, the anti-graft crusader said, “At this age Kalam will not be in a position to actively take part in the movement but his support and blessings will be enough for us,” he said.