New Delhi: Veteran social activist Anna Hazare is extremely disappointed with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal over the alleged corruption in the now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy, which is being investigated by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Hazare, who is considered to be Kejriwal’s political mentor, on Tuesday wrote a scathing letter to the Delhi chief minister on the liquor policy row.
In a first-of-its-kind letter by Hazare to his former aide since the latter became Delhi’s CM, Hazare said Kejriwal appears to have forgotten his principles and is “drunk” on power.
“The excise policy of the Delhi government indicates that the (political) party which was formed at the cost of the historic movement is also walking the same path being taken by other parties. It is very sad,” Hazare wrote.
He mentioned that he was instrumental in prohibition in his village Ralegan Siddhi and also campaigned for a good excise policy in Maharashtra, which led to a prohibition law which bars the sale of liquor in a village if 51% women of the village vote against sale of liquor.
“A similar policy was expected from the Delhi government. But you did not do that. You also appear to be in the vicious circle of money though power and power through money. It should not behove a political party which was born out of a big movement,” Hazare stated.
Hazare also reminded Kejriwal, who used to demand Lokpal and Lokayukta to check corruption in the country, seems to have forgotten the issue since becoming CM.
“You did not even try to bring a strong Lokayukta Act in the Delhi assembly and your government has made an excise policy which will destroy the life of people and affect women. It shows your double standards,” said Hazare.
Kejriwal or AAP is yet to respond to Hazare’s letter.
Hazare, the leader of the historic India Against Corruption movement in 2011, and Kejriwal’s relationship got strained when the latter chose to form a political party. Hazare had strongly opposed Kejriwal’s move.
