New Delhi, August 26
What was being talked about in a hushed tone is now out in the open. Not only there are visible signs of differences within the Anna Hazare camp over the continuance of Gandhian’s fast, it appears that the social activist is keen to be directly involved in further discussions with the government and doesn’t want to leave things to his high-profile aides - Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kejriwal.

The clear signs of deepening differences among the group were visible today when Hegde, not too happy with recent developments, said Anna should call off his fast now. Strongly disapproving of Hazare's insistence on “having his way” in Parliament, Hegde said: “The way the things are moving, I feel I am not in Team Anna any more. These (telling Parliament what to do) are not democratic things”. Another close aide of Anna Swami Agnivesh also advised Hazare to call off his fast.

Even though Kiran Bedi denied any split in Team Anna, some members agreed that Hazare was getting increasingly annoyed with Kejriwal and Bedi, who have “become a major hurdle in constructive talks with the government.”

“Anna is far more political and blessed with a higher emotional and intelligence quotient as compared to those steering the movement,” they maintained. Bedi, however, said: “This is Anna’s fast and we are following him. Team Anna works under his directions and wishes. There is no difference among us. We offer our ideas and pick up the most rational one which is in sync with Anna’s directions and goals.”

But a member of Team Anna, who is close to Kejriwal, does not deny the fact that the group was having “ego” problems with Agnivesh for a while now. “In this era of 24X7 TV channels, a lot of people want to become a hero,” he said. “The problem with Hegde is that he doesn’t understand the nerve of the people,” he added.

Meanwhile, to address the general grievance that no one from Anna’s core group was sitting on the fast, a couple of members belonging to the central group may join Anna.