Anna pressure tactics shaky?
Team Anna’s pressure tactics for a stronger Lokpal might not work with its two prominent members — Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi — facing allegations of financial malfeasance and using influence for personal gains. The team has virtually put the political class in the dock on the corruption issue and has
threatened to campaign against them (Congress). But now it has become shaky.
Justice Santosh Hegde and “Waterman” Rajinder Singh are distancing themselves from the Team after disapproving some of its decisions.
On Sunday, former Chief Justice of India J.S. Verma hit out at Ms Bedi, claiming money which one has not spent was “unacceptable” and “more upsetting” is the justification given by the ex-police officer that she was spending for a cause.
“You cannot claim an amount which you have not spent. You cannot seek reimbursement of money which you have not spent. You cannot justify it,” Justice Verma said when asked to comment on the controversy surrounding Ms Bedi.
Terming as “unacceptable”, the claiming of money which was not actually spent, Justice Verma said, “I am surprised. Why did she, a good officer, do that? The justification also came as a surprise. “It is more upsetting than the act itself... You commit a wrong and make it worse by a justification which is more interesting,” he said.
He said everybody makes a mistake and what you have to do is try and rectify the mistakes. “Realise that you made mistake, accept it and try and make amends,” he added.
“Now I come here and I claim reimbursement for business class, use some concessions and travel. Something like this, pick your pocket and give it to someone else. I mean is this the offence of pickpocketing not committed?” he said. Activist Swami Agnivesh on Sunday questioned the use of funds donated by the public to Team Anna and claimed that the money was deposited in the trust run by Mr Kejriwal from which the names of major team members were missing.
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