Anna to open bank account in the name of IAC, Kejriwal to forego the label

New Delhi: Activist-turned-politician Arvind Kejriwal has decided to drop the name India Against Corruption after the launch of his political party on November 26. The decision that was declared to the world on Kejriwal's Twitter account came hours after anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare said he would open a bank account in the name of India Against Corruption.

"Anna is too dear to us. I have deepest respects for him. After launch of our party on 26 Nov, we will not use IAC name," Kejriwal tweeted on Sunday.

The announcements came on a day when the revamped Team Anna opened its new office in South Delhi. Activist Kiran Bedi and a member of the core group of the new Team Anna on Sunday had told reporters that the name IAC will remain with Anna Hazare. "We will seek donations in the name of IAC. People can donate in the name of IAC," she said.

Arvind Kejriwal's decision came hours after Anna Hazare said he would open a bank account in the name of India Against Corruption.

After the first meeting of Anna's new team, the group had insisted that they would retain IAC with Bedi saying that it was not Hazare who left the organisation but Arvind Kejriwal-led group which wanted to enter politics. "They will be announcing the new name of the party. So, it won't be a problem on the name," she said.

Speaking to the media, Anna said the group's bank account will be in the name of Bedi, Sunita Godara and Lt Colonel Brijender Kokhar, all members of the new Coordination Committee. A press statement issued by the group said Hazare reconstituted the Coordination Committee to re-energise India Against Corruption (IAC) movement, signalling that they were not ready to forgo the name.

Earlier on Sunday, Kejriwal said he considers Anna as his "Guru" and talks to him everyday. "If he asks me to stop using the IAC's name, I won't use it," Kejriwal said when asked about Hazare and his associates' claim that the name remains with them.

Anna and Kejriwal had parted ways in September 2012 over the latter's decision to enter active politics.

Anna is too dear to us. I have deepest respects for him. After launch of our party on 26 Nov, we will not use IAC name.

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal7) November 11, 2012

Also See

• Will forego IAC label after launch of political party on November 26: Arvind Kejriwal
• Anna's Delhi office based in Congress worker's house, allege residents
• Kumar Vishwas, Manish Sisodia shadowed, threatened by a dozen people: IAC

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