Anna Hazare forms new team; plans nationwide tour

Gandhian anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare, who parted company with his former aide Arvind Kejriwal nearly two months ago, today announced the formation of a new 15-member co-ordination committee to spearhead the movement, which, he said, was never called off.

He said the team would spread out to various states across the nation beginning 30 January, the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, so as to make the campaign more vigorous.

Hazare, 75, said there was an urgent need to get the whole country united against corruption so as to bring about a revolutionary change in our governance system "that breeds only corruption and more corruption".

Addressing the press in the capital, Hazare said his team will tour the entire nation over the next year and a half to push the movement for an effective Jan Lokpal before the 2014 elections.

"Today there was a meeting among 13 old members of our group for over five hours. Soon there will be a national campaign against corruption. I will start a nationwide tour from 30 January 2013," Hazare said.

Hazare criticised the government's penchant for foreign direct investment in anything and demanded that foreign investment is strictly regulated.