Kejriwal’s political route not right: Hazare

New Delhi – Social activist Anna Hazare could not hide his displeasure Thursday over former aide Arvind Kejriwal forming the Aam Aadmi Party.

Hazare parted ways with Kejriwal last year when the latter decided to form a political party to pursue the anti-corruption movement started by the two in 2011 under the banner of India Against Corruption.

He said had the team stayed together, the picture would have been different.

“Taking the party route was not right when the movement had come to a turning point,” Hazare said at the Agenda Aaj Tak conclave here.

“If our team was strong and had stayed together, the picture of the country would have been different,” he said.

The social activist said he had written to Kejriwal against the use of his name to collect funds for AAP during the Delhi assembly elections.

“I wrote to Kejriwal that using ! my name was not correct,” he said.

Hazare said he was set to restart his anti-corruption movement from Dec 10 and has already toured six states demanding passage of the Lokpal Bill in parliament.

He said Kejriwal or any other political leader was not welcome to share the dais along with him.

On a query that there was a public interest litigation in court over the funds allegedly collected during the anti-corruption movement in 2011, Hazare said he will tell the court that he has nothing to do with money in his life.

“I don’t have a bank balance. Who collected money and who used it I don’t know,” he said.

He said his difference with Kejriwal was not that important.

“We are here to think about how to change the country, not about the fight between Anna and Arvind. The country cannot change over the fight between Anna and Arvind,” he said.

Hazare also accused the central government of ditching people over the Lokpal Bill.
“I was given an assurance but nothing has happened in the past two yea! rs. They don’t want to pass the Bill,” he said.

Hazare also said he hated politics because it has veered away from a focus on pro-people policies to a game of money and power.

“I hate politics because it does not look beyond money and power,” he said.

“People should elect clean people for the Lok Sabha,” he said.

Asked why he continues to nurse such animosity towards politicians, Hazare said: “Some people eat to live, our politicians live to eat. Policies are being made to bring big companies into India, for policies that ruin the environment, but not policies that uplift the poor.”