"It is not a competition. Ultimately we will have to think about the country. We will have to think about the welfare of the people. Ramdev is taking up some issues. Anna Hazare has taken up some issues No one is outshining anyone," Hazare's close associate Arvind Kejriwal said.
On Ramdev's proposed fast, he said, "We are fully supporting his movement."
Asked about the government's observation that there was no consensus among the civil society, he retorted asking, has there been any consensus among the 543 MPs in Parliament on any issue.
"I want to ask the ministers who said there is no consensus among the civil society, has there been any consensus in Parliament on any issue barring the issue of raising their salaries? In democracy there is bound to be various shades of opinion," he said.
On the hurdles in the talks with the government for drafting the Lokpal Bill, he said they will keep fighting for their demands.
"If we feel the government is going to give us a weak legislation, then there will be no option but to go to the streets again. If there is division in the civil society, does that mean we should not have a Lokpal bill," he said on the sidelines of a consultation meeting with media personnel on the proposed bill.
Another civil society member Prashant Bhushan said they support most of the demands of the yoga guru.
"We support most of his demands. Most of his demands are related to dealing with corruption. We support his demands and hope that the government would come out to address them," he said.
"I have not gone through all his demands. But broadly I can say we support his demand on land acquisition We support his view that genetically modified food should not be allowed. We also support his demand for seizure of black money and cancellation of double taxation treaty with Mauritius."
However, he said he personally did not support the demand for capital punishment as maximum punishment for those involved in corruption.
"I personally do not support hanging somebody for being involved in corruption. I personally do not support hanging as punishment," he said.
"I also support his demand for abolishing Rs 500, Rs 1,000 denomination notes which will help in curbing corruption."
Asked whether he will sit with Ramdev during his proposed protest, he said it does not matter whether he joins the protest or not.
Prashant, his father Shanti Bhushan and Kejriwal strongly demanded bringing the prime minister and higher judiciary under the Lokpal's ambit.
"The government's argument that if the prime minister was covered under the Lokpal, it would create instability at the top is totally unacceptable," said Kejriwal.
He said at the last meeting of the Lokpal drafting committee, Prashant had reminded the government side that the "then PM was also investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the Bofors case. That did not deter him from taking decisions or make him dysfunctional."
