India

Swami Agnivesh web clips spark row

Swami Agnivesh, has courted controversy with video clippings showing him criticising the anti-corruption campaign.

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NEW DELHI: Activist Swami Agnivesh, who was a key member of Team Anna till the ninth day of Anna Hazare's 12-day fast, has courted controversy with video clippings appearing on social network sites allegedly showing him criticising the anti-corruption campaign. Agnivesh has dismissed the footage as doctored.

The clips allegedly showed him describing Anna's team as "mad and misguided elephant" over phone to "Kapilji" - purportedly Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal.

Agnivesh told IANS that the footage was manipulated and it was not Kapil Sibal to whom he was talking.

He said that the footage was doctored and was part of a campaign to malign him.

"It was pointless for Anna to continue his agitation after parliament accepted his three demands," Agnivesh was allegedly shown as saying in the clip.

He said that Anna's "team was crossing the limits and were trying to climb on the government's head, which was not tolerable".

In the clip, Agnivesh was allegedly heard expressing disappointment that he was not selected as a negotiator.

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