Attack on Prashant Bhushan a conspiracy, role of police should be probed: Kejriwal

New Delhi: Clarifying that Kashmir was an integral part of India and Team Anna’s focus is only on the issue of corruption, Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said that the Kashmir issue was used as a smokescreen for attacking senior Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan.

Bhushan was attacked inside his Supreme Court chamber a couple of days ago by three men, who claimed to be members different right wing organisations.

Talking to mediapersons here, Kejriwal said that the attack on Bhushan and the scuffle between Team Anna members and supporters of the three attackers outside the Patiala House Court on Thursday was part of a conspiracy to distract the attention of the peopke from the issue of corruption.

“Kashmir is an integral part of India. The Kashmir issue is a complicated one and should be resolved according to the Constitution,” Kejriwal said.

Denying any rift in Team Anna, Kejriwal rejected reports of Prashant Bhushan’s exit from Anna’s team and said that the lawyers remains an important part of the squad.

He also questioned the role of Delhi police during the whole Bhushan attack episode and demanded a probe into the matter.

Meanwhile, the three men who had launched an assault of Bhushan were granted bail by the court on Friday.

Kashmir integral part, Prashant Bhushan too: Anna Hazare

New Delhi: Terming his team member Prashant Bhushan’s views on Kashmir as “wrong”, Anna Hazare said Kashmir is an integral part of India.

Reiterating Hazare’s view that the senior advocate’s remarks on Kashmir were his own, Team Anna cleared said Bhushan is an “integral” and “inseparable” part of their group.

They also hinted at possibility of a deeper “conspiracy” behind attack on Bhushan on Wednesday which was followed by bashing of their supporters outside a Delhi court on Thursday. They said it needs to be probed in detail and these actions could be to divide their team and affect the Lokpal movement.

“Today our core committee met and we discussed several issues including our member Prashant Bhushan’s remark on Kashmir. He is an inseparable and integral part of our team. However, his views on Kashmir are his personal views,” team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal said.

Kejriwal said through Anna Hazarewas not present in  the meeting physically, they were talking to him on phone constantly.

Asked about their view on whole issue including Kashmir, Kejriwal read a statement which said: “IAC stands for unity and integrity of India. We believe Kashmir is an integral part of India. Kashmir is a complex problem and should be solved through peaceful means and dialogue within the four walls of our constitution.”

A controversy over Bhushan’s continuance in the team broke out when Anna while talking to mediapersons in Ralegan Siddhi said Bhushan’s remarks were his own and the team doesn’t agree with it. “Woh aage jaake hum log tay karenge, rakhna (hai) nahi rakhna (We will decide later whether he will be in the team),” Hazare told reporters. Kejriwal said the confusion started because during this interaction some one asked him if Bhushan would be removed from the team.