By Amit Sengupta

It’s a free fall. And despite the allegations of financial corruption, open infighting and ideological disarray, Team Anna claims it is sticking it out. Addicted to TV grandstanding, they once again did a press conference on October 29 in Delhi, claiming “united we stand.” There was nothing bombastic in the press meet, unlike their usual, belligerent media posturing.

After the unsavoury events in recent times, stalking their ethical and political conduct, they have been rather circumspect. Gone are the muscle pumping, the chest thumping, and the usual warnings — like Arvind Kejriwal threatening to bring crowds “10 times” bigger than what the nation witnessed in August. Indeed, instead of self-criticism, this was Kejriwal’s response in defence of Kiran Bedi​’s financial conduct in repeatedly fudging huge air fare bills.

While Anna Hazare has safely extended his ‘maun vrat’, what his critics dub as the ‘silence of opportunism’ in the face of difficult (often incomprehensible) questions, the split in the faction-ridden Hazare camp is wide open. Medha Patkar​ and Justice Santosh Hegde did not attend the meeting on October 29. Hegde has openly opposed the ‘Hisar line’; no one was consulted, he said. The ‘Hisar line’ was a give-away. It proved the totally authoritarian and unethical conduct of the Kejriwal coterie. “How can you oppose Congress and help two discredited and corrupt multi-millionaire candidates with a history of corruption?” asks an old associate.

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