Anna hardens stand on Bhushan, attacks Kashmir remark

Indicating hardening of stand against Prashant Bhushan, Anna Hazare today took an indirect dig at the lawyer-activist saying some people talk "incoherent" things about Kashmir though they cannot do anything on ground.

"Some people talk incoherent things about Kashmir related issues. Today once again if I have to, am ready to take part in war against Pakistan. But some people can only speak and don't do anything on ground (for Kashmir) and this is unfortunate," he said on his blog as he continued his indefinite "silence".

In the latest posting titled 'My Conviction about Kashmir', Hazare said he had taken active part in the 1965 India-Pakistan war "as a soldier" and all his colleagues attained martyrdom on the border during the war but he "miraculously" survived.

"It was then I pledged the rest of my life in the service of my country. Even today you can see the marks on my forehead left behind by Pakistan's bullet. This is my active conviction that Kashmir is an integral part of India and will remain so," he said.

According to Hazare's official website, Hazare was posted at the Khemkaran border and on November 12, 1965, Pakistan launched air attacks on Indian base and "all of Hazare's comrades became martyrs, It was a close shave for Hazare as one bullet had passed by his head".

Hazare's remarks were seen as hardening of the stand against Bhushan, who had advocated plebiscite in Kashmir. The lawyer was attacked in his office by three right-wing activists last week for his comments.

Serious differences have cropped up in Team Anna on some important issues facing his campaign, which include the continuance of Bhushan in the Team as well as taking an anti-Congress stand. Two prominent activists have also quit Team Anna.