Amid the raging political slugfest between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the now-scrapped liquor policy, social activist Anna Hazare on Tuesday accused his former disciple and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal of forgetting “the ideal ideology” and called him “power-drunk”.
Citing Kejriwal’s Swaraj book, Hazare accused that the AAP is no longer following the path he once promised to tread. “You have written great things in your book. Since I read your book, I had great expectations from you. But it seems you have forgotten the ideal ideology after becoming the chief minister. That is why your government formed such a policy,” he wrote in a letter.
“This policy has the potential to encourage liquor sale and consumption. It could lead to the opening of liquor shops on every street. It can encourage corruption, which is not in the public interest,” he added.
Hazare, whose anti-corruption movement in 2011 rattled the then Congress government, said he was pained to hear the news related to the Delhi Liquor Policy. “It seems power also intoxicates people does like liquor. It seems you are drunk on power.”
He also criticised Kejriwal, who played an important role in India Against Corruption movement, for floating the AAP, which he said, is no different from other political parties. “Forming a political party was never our motive,” he said.
Hazare added, “The movement was meant to be a pressure group to force authorities to work in public interest. With the new liquor policy, it seems the party, which was formed damaging a historic movement, is following other parties. This is very painful.”
He also came down heavily on the AAP convener for not making “serious efforts” to form a law for a strong Lokpal. “You delivered so many public speeches demanding Lokayukt law but you did not make serious efforts towards this endeavour, which exposes your double standards,” he remarked.
The Kejriwal government has been accused by the Opposition BJP of corruption running into crores under the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, a charge rubbished by the AAP leaders.
However, as the BJP leaders raised the pitch for a CBI inquiry into the alleged scam, the Delhi government accused former Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal of sabotaging the policy.
On BJP’s complaint, LG VK Saxena recommended a CBI investigation against Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who held the excise portfolio. Subsequently, Sisodia’s residence and office were searched by the agency for more than 16 hours earlier this month.
