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{{short description|Anti-corruption movement in India}} | |||
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'''India Against Corruption''' ('''IAC''') is |
'''India Against Corruption''' ('''IAC''') is a non-political anti-corruption movement in India since 2007 which rose to prominence during the anti-corruption protests of ]. Divisions among personalities on IAC's platform eventually led to the formation of the ]. | ||
== Rise == | == Rise == | ||
The IAC popular movement which began in 2007<ref>{{cite web | author=Web Desk | title=Rahul says AAP was propped up by BJP to bring down UPA, subvert democracy | website=The Week | date=2020-09-15 | url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/09/15/rahul-says-bjp-propped-up-aam-aadmi-party-to-bring-down-upa-subvert-democracy.html | access-date=2024-03-25}}</ref><ref>https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/iac-rejects-congress-s-conspiracy-charge-against-forum-117122500566_1.html {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref> as a Hindutva affiliated movement for ] activists concerned with exposing Commonwealth Games and other "scams", expanded as part of a ] from 2010.<ref>{{cite news |first=Abantika |last=Ghosh |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/shifting-stir-to-mumbai-a-mistake-iac/893269/0 |title=Shifting stir to Mumbai a mistake: IAC |work=The Indian Express|date=29 December 2011 |access-date=20 March 2014}}</ref> which hoped to bring about a corruption-free India. The campaign gained strength through ], building a massive network of supporters. Initially ], a populist Indian ] seemed to be the figurehead for this campaign but his connections to the right-wing ] threatened to damage the credibility of what was perceived as an apolitical movement.<ref name="How Ramdev & Sri Sri got together, grew apart 2011 p. ">{{citation | title=How Ramdev & Sri Sri got together, grew apart | date=2011-06-02 | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/how-ramdev-sri-sri-got-together-grew-apart/ | access-date=2024-04-16 | page=}}</ref><ref name="The Economic Times 2011 z419">{{cite web | title=Ramdev's agitation fully backed by RSS & its front organisations: PC | website=The Economic Times | date=2011-06-09 | url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/ramdevs-agitation-fully-backed-by-rss-its-front-organisations-pc/articleshow/8782716.cms?from=mdr | access-date=2024-04-16}}</ref> This led to IAC's managers substituting him as centrepiece by ] whose connections to Sangh Parivar were less obvious.<ref>{{cite web | last=Ghosh | first=Abantika | title=IAC 100% RSS front: Long-time aides tell Anna to correct course | website=The Indian Express | date=2012-01-09 | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/iac-100-rss-front-longtime-aides-tell-anna-to-correct-course/ | access-date=2024-04-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=No differences with IAC, we work together: Anna Hazare aides | website=India Today | date=2012-01-09 | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/north/story/lokpal-anna-hazare-india-against-corruption-89018-2012-01-08 | ref={{sfnref | India Today | 2012}} | access-date=2024-04-16}}</ref><ref name="Srivastava 2011 t102">{{cite web | last=Srivastava | first=Piyush | title=Congress sharpens knives for Anna Hazare over RSS link | website=India Today | date=2011-10-08 | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/north/story/congress-targets-anna-hazare-as-rss-admits-links-142898-2011-10-07 | access-date=2024-04-16}}</ref> Hazare's support base is described by ] as being largely "from urban middle-classes and idealistic youth". The urban support for Hazare attracted high-profile support for the campaign from ] stars, the internet-savvy, and mainstream English-language news media.<ref name="Nanda">{{cite book |title=The God Market: How Globalization is Making India More Hindu |first=Meera |last=Nanda |author-link=Meera Nanda |publisher=NYU Press |year=2011 |isbn=9781583673096 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vxVvrSevzQsC&pg=PR22 |pages=xxii-xxiii}}</ref> | |||
{{See also |2011 Indian anti-corruption movement|2012 Indian anti-corruption movement}} | |||
== Aftermath == | |||
Alison Brysk, an American political science professor, wrote in her book ''Speaking Rights to Power: Constructing Political Will'' that the IAC popular protest movement began in a year when there were also major protests about corruption in countries such as Russia (sometimes called the '']'') and the US ('']''). She also says that the ] protests that began in late 2010 were "initially sparked by corruption - not regime change". Brysk believes that "Regardless of limited policy outcomes, each of these citizenship movements succeeded in communicating a political critique of social problems that had been seen previously as a consequence of tradition, abusive individuals, self-correcting markets, or bad luck. They were all movements that relied heavily on symbolism."<ref>{{cite book |title=Speaking Rights to Power: Constructing Political Will |first=Alison |last=Brysk |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2013 |pages=114-115 |isbn=978-0-19998-267-7 |url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=4Hdj7YVYZC0C&pg=PA114}}</ref> | |||
⚫ | In 2012, the IAC began to disassociate from Hazare's followers (then popularly known as "Team Anna").<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/north/story/lokpal-anna-hazare-india-against-corruption-89018-2012-01-08 | title=No differences with IAC, we work together: Anna Hazare aides | date=9 January 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The End of Authority: How a Loss of Legitimacy and Broken Trust Are Endangering Our Future |first=Douglas E. |last=Schoen |author-link=Douglas Schoen |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |year=2013 |isbn=9781442220324 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bbF8AQAAQBAJ&pg=PA185 |pages=185–186}}</ref> On 3 August 2012, the deep differences of opinion among the central figures of the anti-corruption protest spilled into the public domain. ]'s faction conducted an online survey which suggested that direct involvement in politics was preferable, leading to their exit to form the ] (AAP). On 5 August 2012 Hazare rejected the survey findings and announced he was disbanding Team Anna.<ref>{{cite news |agency=PTI |location=New Delhi |date=19 September 2012 |title=Anna Hazare tells Arvind Kejriwal not to use his name, photo for votes as they part ways |work=India Today|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/team-anna-split-anna-hazare-arvind-kejriwal-part-ways/1/217947.html |access-date=12 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=So what is the Aam Aadmi Party all about|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/what-is-the-aam-aadmi-party-all-about/1/234564.html|date=24 November 2012|work=India Today|location=New Delhi |access-date=12 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Hazare-disbands-Team-Anna-says-no-talks-with-govt-on-Lokpal/articleshow/15374041.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203031501/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-06/india/33064289_1_team-anna-core-committee-anna-hazare-lokpal-bill |url-status=live |archive-date=3 December 2013 |title=Hazare disbands Team Anna, says no talks with govt on Lokpal |date=6 August 2012 |work=] |access-date=23 November 2013}}</ref> | ||
⚫ | In November 2012 Hazare said that he was forming a new Team Anna 2.0 which would have a new office in New Delhi and use the label India against Corruption.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/after-announcing-team-anna-hazare-to-inaugurate-new-office-in-delhi/305049-3-244.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113211832/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/after-announcing-team-anna-hazare-to-inaugurate-new-office-in-delhi/305049-3-244.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 November 2012 |title=After announcing team, Anna Hazare to inaugurate new office in Delhi |publisher=IBN Live |date=11 November 2012 |access-date=23 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/team-anna-gets-new-people.-but-will-their-gameplan-be-a-game-changer/1/229234.html |title=Team Anna gets new people. But will their gameplan be a game-changer? |work=India Today|date=15 November 2012 |access-date=23 November 2013}}</ref> | ||
The official position of figureheads in the IAC movement was that it had no formal organisation beyond a 24-member core committee.<ref>{{cite news |first=Abantika |last=Ghosh |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/shifting-stir-to-mumbai-a-mistake-iac/893269/0 |title=Shifting stir to Mumbai a mistake: IAC |publisher=Indian Express |date=29 December 2011 |accessdate=20 March 2014}}</ref> In 2011, the mostly middle-class organisers of IAC determined to launch a campaign to mobilise the masses in support of a demand that they hoped would help to bring about a corruption-free India. Their proposal was for the creation of a Lokpal (]) who would have powers to arrest and charge government officials accused of corruption.<ref name="Guha">{{cite book |title=Patriots and Partisans: From Nehru to Hindutva and Beyond |first=Ramachandra |last=Guha |authorlink=Ramachandra Guha |publisher=Penguin UK |year=2013 |isbn=9788184757538 |url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=hCU2Kv3tinkC&pg=PT122#v=onepage&q&f=false|pages=119–122}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110827/jsp/opinion/story_14423092.jsp |title=A PATRIARCH FOR THE NATION? |publisher=The Telegraph, Calcutta |date=27 August 2011 |accessdate=5 September 2014}}</ref><ref name="Nanda" /> They approached ], a populist ] with millions of supporters among the middle-classes of small-town India, to be the figurehead for this campaign. His connections to the right-wing ] threatened to damage the credibility of what was nominally an apolitical movement. He was soon replaced by ], a veteran ]er with a history of undertaking ] in support of his causes. Hazare, too, brought a large support base with him, described by ] as being largely "from urban middle-classes and idealistic youth". The urban sophistication of Hazare, compared to Ramdev's rusticity, attracted high-profile support for the campaign from ] stars, the internet-savvy, and mainstream English-language news media. He, too, struggled to disassociate himself from ] symbolism: hence, support from non-Hindus was less forthcoming.<ref name="Nanda">{{cite book |title=The God Market: How Globalization is Making India More Hindu |first=Meera |last=Nanda |authorlink=Meera Nanda |publisher=NYU Press |year=2011 |isbn=9781583673096 |url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=vxVvrSevzQsC&pg=PR22 |pages=xxii-xxiii}}</ref> | |||
Eventually Team Anna instead adopted the name Jantantra Morcha after the India Against Corruption name owners swiftly took it over to focus instead on Right to Information issues instead of the Jan Lokpal.<ref>{{cite news |last=Khandekar |first=Nivedita |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/anti-corruption-body-abandons-janlokpal/story-m8y4b7EWjL8UExhJI8afoM.html |title=Anti-corruption body abandons Janlokpal |work=Hindustan Times |location=New Delhi |publisher=Hindustan Times |date=2013-09-03 |accessdate=2024-04-13 |quote= Hazare, who formed the Jantantra Morcha. The group, which now runs — and claims to own — the IAC, mostly comprises Right to Information (RTI) activists. The group had taken over the IAC immediately after the split but held its first formal meeting on Monday. Its national convenor Sarbajit Roy said: “We do not support Janlokpal or the Lokpal. You cannot have a comprehensive Lokpal dealing with petty local corruption as well as systemic mega corruption deals such as 2G or defence deals.” In its new avatar, the IAC decided that the RTI was virtually dead and that “there is a need to defend RTI in India”. }}</ref> Welcoming Anna's Jantantra Morcha initiative in 2015, National convener of India Against Corruption, Sarabjit Roy said IAC has nothing against Anna since he was never officially a part of IAC nor was he a leader of the movement. IAC's concerns were that Anna is misled into associations with projects and people that he shouldn't be with and Anna was then in the company of scoundrels. As per Roy, IAC is now a group of intellectuals after Arvind Kejriwal took all the aam aadmis (common folk) to politics.<ref>{{cite news |last=Shrivastava |first=Anvit |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/anna-hazare-launches-anti-graft-front/articleshow/46790597.cms |title=Anna Hazare launches anti-graft front |work=Times of India |publisher=Times of India |date=2015-04-03 |accessdate=2024-04-13 |quote=National convener of India Against Corruption, Sarabjit Roy, cautiously welcomed Anna's initiative. "We have nothing against Anna. He was never officially a part of IAC nor was he a leader of the movement. Our concern is that Anna gets associated with projects and people that he shouldn't be with. He has been misled. He was in the company of scoundrels. IAC is no more an aam aadmi movement, as Arvind took all the aam aadmis to politics. We are a group of intellectuals now." }}</ref> The denuded Team Anna's sporadic claims to the India Against Corruption name for political purposes was regularly disputed by the India Against Corruption organization which stated | |||
<blockquote>''These persons are imposters of IAC who are misusing our name for electioneering purposes. IAC is a non-political body, and we strongly object to utilisation of our well known name in connection with Mr. Anna Hazare or for political motives.''<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/delhi/anna-to-address-on-electoral-reforms-392625 |title=Anna to address on electoral reforms |work=The Tribune |date=2017-04-16 |accessdate=2024-04-13 }}</ref><br />''Gen (Retd.) V.K.Singh was never associated with India Against Corruption and neither was Mr. Anna Hazare a part of it. Referring to them in the context of IAC is misleading especially in context of political activity."<ref>{{cite news |last=Ramachandran |first=Smriti Kak |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bjp-is-the-only-party-that-thinks-of-national-interest-says-vk-singh/article5739915.ece |title=BJP is the only party that thinks of national interest, says V.K. Singh |work=The Hindu |location=Ghaziabad |date=2021-11-17 |accessdate=2024-04-13 |quote=Gen (Retd.) V.K.Singh was never associated with India Against Corruption and neither was Mr. Anna Hazare a part of it. Referring to them in the context of IAC is misleading especially in context of political activity }}</ref>''</blockquote> | |||
Mahendra Prasad Singh, another professor of political science and a former Director of the ], sees some similarity between the Hazare-led IAC campaign and campaigns of the 1970s for which ] was the figure-head. The significant difference, he says, is that rather than using "conventional means of political mobilisation, mainly thrived on the private electronic and social media, supplemented by mass congregation in cities".<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Administrative Reforms in India |first=Mahendra Prasad |last=Singh |title=Public Administration in South Asia: India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan | |||
Public Administration and Public Policy |editor1-first=Meghna |editor1-last=Sabharwal |editor2-first=Evan M. |editor2-last=Berman |publisher=CRC Press |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-43986-911-6 |page=152 |url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=6kV-ZOMdfrYC&pg=PA152}}</ref> | |||
Historian and commentator ] has questioned the image that has been portrayed of IAC and of Hazare. Acknowledging that Hazare had previously been successful in campaigns for infrastructure reforms at the local level in his native ] and that the IAC campaign of 2011 had an impact, Guha doubts the claims that the 2011 and 2012 protests overwhelmingly engaged the masses. He notes that liberals were concerned with a perceived anti-democratic rhetoric while socially oppressed communities, such as the ]s and ]es, were worried that the Hindu-led movement would undermine the gains they have made through legislative reforms, such as those resulting from the ]. He considers that the attention given to the protest by 24-hour news channels and internet resources has masked the realities, such as that popular participation at the ] and ] protests in Delhi was a fraction of that evidenced in ] in 1998 when 400,000 marched in an anti-nuclear movement. IAC and Hazare in particular piggy-backed on and gained from discontent surrounding some coincident corruption scandals involving the government. These scandals, such as the ], were high-profile examples of the corruption that is claimed to be endemic in Indian society at all levels but Guha believes the IAC solution — the Lokpal — was a "simplistic" reaction.<ref name="Guha" /> | |||
== Internal split == | |||
⚫ | In 2012, the IAC began to |
||
⚫ | |||
The new Team Anna, sometimes referred to as ''Team Anna 2.0'', was preparing to tour the country from 30 January 2013, coinciding with the death anniversary of ].<ref name="ndtv" >{{cite news |url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/team-anna-2-0-announced-will-tour-country-from-january-30-291098 |title=Team Anna 2.0 announced, will tour country from January 30 |publisher=NDTV |date=10 November 2012 |accessdate=23 November 2013}}</ref> When that day came, Hazare announced that he had formed Jantantra Morcha, a campaigning group that included the previously-named members of Team Anna 2.0 and which he considered to be a replacement for IAC but with a broader agenda.<ref>{{cite news |title=IAC is now Jantantra Morcha, says Anna |first=Rashi |last=Gaikwad |publisher=The Hindu |date=31 January 2013 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/iac-is-now-jantantra-morcha-says-anna/article4361529.ece |accessdate=23 November 2013}}</ref> | |||
According to the '']'' of 3 September 2013, "The group, which now runs — and claims to own — the IAC, mostly comprises Right to Information (RTI) activists. The group had taken over the IAC immediately after the split but held its first formal meeting on Monday ." The 2013 group's National Convenor is Sarbajit Roy.<ref>Khandekar, Nivedita (3 September 2013) . '']''. Retrieved 27 September 2014.</ref> | |||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
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== External links == | |||
{{commons category |
{{commons category|India Against Corruption}} | ||
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{{Corruption in India}} | |||
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Latest revision as of 03:31, 18 December 2024
Anti-corruption movement in IndiaIndia Against Corruption (IAC) is a non-political anti-corruption movement in India since 2007 which rose to prominence during the anti-corruption protests of 2011. Divisions among personalities on IAC's platform eventually led to the formation of the Aam Aadmi Party.
Rise
The IAC popular movement which began in 2007 as a Hindutva affiliated movement for Right to Information activists concerned with exposing Commonwealth Games and other "scams", expanded as part of a larger wave of demonstrations and protests from 2010. which hoped to bring about a corruption-free India. The campaign gained strength through social media, building a massive network of supporters. Initially Ramdev, a populist Indian yogi seemed to be the figurehead for this campaign but his connections to the right-wing Sangh Parivar threatened to damage the credibility of what was perceived as an apolitical movement. This led to IAC's managers substituting him as centrepiece by Anna Hazare whose connections to Sangh Parivar were less obvious. Hazare's support base is described by Meera Nanda as being largely "from urban middle-classes and idealistic youth". The urban support for Hazare attracted high-profile support for the campaign from Bollywood stars, the internet-savvy, and mainstream English-language news media.
Aftermath
In 2012, the IAC began to disassociate from Hazare's followers (then popularly known as "Team Anna"). On 3 August 2012, the deep differences of opinion among the central figures of the anti-corruption protest spilled into the public domain. Arvind Kejriwal's faction conducted an online survey which suggested that direct involvement in politics was preferable, leading to their exit to form the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). On 5 August 2012 Hazare rejected the survey findings and announced he was disbanding Team Anna.
In November 2012 Hazare said that he was forming a new Team Anna 2.0 which would have a new office in New Delhi and use the label India against Corruption. Eventually Team Anna instead adopted the name Jantantra Morcha after the India Against Corruption name owners swiftly took it over to focus instead on Right to Information issues instead of the Jan Lokpal. Welcoming Anna's Jantantra Morcha initiative in 2015, National convener of India Against Corruption, Sarabjit Roy said IAC has nothing against Anna since he was never officially a part of IAC nor was he a leader of the movement. IAC's concerns were that Anna is misled into associations with projects and people that he shouldn't be with and Anna was then in the company of scoundrels. As per Roy, IAC is now a group of intellectuals after Arvind Kejriwal took all the aam aadmis (common folk) to politics. The denuded Team Anna's sporadic claims to the India Against Corruption name for political purposes was regularly disputed by the India Against Corruption organization which stated
These persons are imposters of IAC who are misusing our name for electioneering purposes. IAC is a non-political body, and we strongly object to utilisation of our well known name in connection with Mr. Anna Hazare or for political motives.
Gen (Retd.) V.K.Singh was never associated with India Against Corruption and neither was Mr. Anna Hazare a part of it. Referring to them in the context of IAC is misleading especially in context of political activity."
See also
References
- Web Desk (15 September 2020). "Rahul says AAP was propped up by BJP to bring down UPA, subvert democracy". The Week. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/iac-rejects-congress-s-conspiracy-charge-against-forum-117122500566_1.html
- Ghosh, Abantika (29 December 2011). "Shifting stir to Mumbai a mistake: IAC". The Indian Express. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
- How Ramdev & Sri Sri got together, grew apart, 2 June 2011, retrieved 16 April 2024
- "Ramdev's agitation fully backed by RSS & its front organisations: PC". The Economic Times. 9 June 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
- Ghosh, Abantika (9 January 2012). "IAC 100% RSS front: Long-time aides tell Anna to correct course". The Indian Express. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
- "No differences with IAC, we work together: Anna Hazare aides". India Today. 9 January 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
- Srivastava, Piyush (8 October 2011). "Congress sharpens knives for Anna Hazare over RSS link". India Today. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
- Nanda, Meera (2011). The God Market: How Globalization is Making India More Hindu. NYU Press. pp. xxii–xxiii. ISBN 9781583673096.
- "No differences with IAC, we work together: Anna Hazare aides". 9 January 2012.
- Schoen, Douglas E. (2013). The End of Authority: How a Loss of Legitimacy and Broken Trust Are Endangering Our Future. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 185–186. ISBN 9781442220324.
- "Anna Hazare tells Arvind Kejriwal not to use his name, photo for votes as they part ways". India Today. New Delhi. PTI. 19 September 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- "So what is the Aam Aadmi Party all about". India Today. New Delhi. 24 November 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- "Hazare disbands Team Anna, says no talks with govt on Lokpal". The Times of India. 6 August 2012. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- "After announcing team, Anna Hazare to inaugurate new office in Delhi". IBN Live. 11 November 2012. Archived from the original on 13 November 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- "Team Anna gets new people. But will their gameplan be a game-changer?". India Today. 15 November 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- Khandekar, Nivedita (3 September 2013). "Anti-corruption body abandons Janlokpal". Hindustan Times. New Delhi: Hindustan Times. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
Hazare, who formed the Jantantra Morcha. The group, which now runs — and claims to own — the IAC, mostly comprises Right to Information (RTI) activists. The group had taken over the IAC immediately after the split but held its first formal meeting on Monday. Its national convenor Sarbajit Roy said: "We do not support Janlokpal or the Lokpal. You cannot have a comprehensive Lokpal dealing with petty local corruption as well as systemic mega corruption deals such as 2G or defence deals." In its new avatar, the IAC decided that the RTI was virtually dead and that "there is a need to defend RTI in India".
- Shrivastava, Anvit (3 April 2015). "Anna Hazare launches anti-graft front". Times of India. Times of India. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
National convener of India Against Corruption, Sarabjit Roy, cautiously welcomed Anna's initiative. "We have nothing against Anna. He was never officially a part of IAC nor was he a leader of the movement. Our concern is that Anna gets associated with projects and people that he shouldn't be with. He has been misled. He was in the company of scoundrels. IAC is no more an aam aadmi movement, as Arvind took all the aam aadmis to politics. We are a group of intellectuals now."
- "Anna to address on electoral reforms". The Tribune. 16 April 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- Ramachandran, Smriti Kak (17 November 2021). "BJP is the only party that thinks of national interest, says V.K. Singh". The Hindu. Ghaziabad. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
Gen (Retd.) V.K.Singh was never associated with India Against Corruption and neither was Mr. Anna Hazare a part of it. Referring to them in the context of IAC is misleading especially in context of political activity