Team Anna accepts defeat, embraces politics
03 Aug 2012
Anna Hazare and his team members accepted defeat at the end of 10 days of fasting (Anna Hazare joined the fast 4 days later) that failed to awake politicians' collective conscience or elicit public support and instead decided to form another political party to fight for people's rights.
Hazare and his supporters said an unresponsive government forced them to go the political way.
Former Army chief General VK Singh offered coconut water to Gandhian Anna Hazare and other fasting members, Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Gopal Rai, on Friday evening, ending their fast.
Gen Singh's presence at the venue announcing the formation of a new political party more than revealed the former Army chief's intention to join the fight against corruption.
Gen VK Singh was among 23 eminent personalities who had written a joint letter to Team Anna appealing them to end their fast and instead work towards providing a political alternative to the country.
Speaking on the occasion Gen VK Singh also reiterated his appeal to Team Anna to enter the political arena if they want to bring any change in the government.