New Delhi : Former Team Anna member and activist Swami Agnivesh Monday said details of funds raised during Anna Hazare’s Ramlila ground fast should be made public as soon as possible. However, environmentalist Medha Patkar dismissed charges of irregularities, saying truth will soon be out.
“All together, I am not putting any blame of corruption on anyone. What amount of donation was collected and what was spent, the details should be given on the website, this is the need of the hour,” Agnivesh told a TV channel.
He also said Anna Hazare was displeased about reports of financial irregularities.
“The people present in Oct 10-11 meeting in Ralegaon Siddhi told me that when Anna Hazare came to know that something has gone wrong during his movement, he was very serious. He said this is not done because my name is attached with the movement and I will not let any hanky panky happen,” he said.
In an interview , Agnivesh had earlier accused Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal of having diverted Rs.70-80 lakh collected by India Against Corruption (IAC), headed by Anna Hazare, to his private trust.
However, Medha Patkar said that Agnivesh told her that he had not leveled any allegations but only referred to questions raised by some quarters.
Patkar, who is also one of IAC’s core committee members, said a special audit is on and will be made public soon.
“Any doubts, if anybody has, should be raised after the special audit. The truth will come out soon,” she added.
About Agnivesh’s statement that Anna was unhappy with the allegations, Patkar said that Agnivesh was not present at the core committee meeting and so cannot speak on the issue.
“He must have misunderstood the situation. In the meeting, the core committee members decided unanimously for an audit of funds collected from April to September,” she added.
Agnivesh, whose photograph still appears on the IAC website, was ousted from Team Anna in August for his alleged proximity to the government.
Meanwhile, Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh too attacked Kejriwal.
“BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) is backing Kejriwal. It shows there is a tie-up. I have been proved right again.”
“He (Kejriwal) is a RTI (Right to Information) champion and believes in transparency. So he should come out clean and tell the truth. Either Agnivesh is lying or he (Kejriwal) is,” he added.
Kejriwal remained unavailable for comment.
IANS
