Power went to Kejri’s head: Hazare

MUMBAI: Accusing the government of not abiding by the Lokpal and Lokayukta laws, social activist Anna Hazare on Saturday said he was toying with the idea of moving

MUMBAI: Accusing the government of not abiding by the Lokpal and Lokayukta laws, social activist Anna Hazare on Saturday said he was toying with the idea of moving to Ramlila Maidan in Delhi once again.

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Speaking about Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal — his former colleague — becoming Delhi’s chief minister, and the expulsion of three of his ministers at a press conference, Hazare said, “It is my misfortune; Arvind was with me for so many years and I have seen his sacrifices, his social and national views. I thought he was a good person who wanted to do something good for the country. I don’t know what was going on in his mind. Now I have realised that “satta” (power) went to his head.”

He said that if Kejriwal wants to launch a party, he could do so.

“I had told him, if you are launching a party, we don’t have a relationship and our ways are different now,” he added.

“I asked him if the people joining his party had strength of character, purity of thought and behaviour, sacrifice and power to bear their condemnation. I asked him what method he would adopt to screen people who wished to become part of his party but he could not answer me,” he said.

“I had started the movement for Lokpal because there was increasing corruption during the previous government. The corruption was not affecting me, but the lives of common people had become difficult due to the soaring inflation,” said Hazare.

“I was unable to bear the people’s plight. I have decided that I will devote my life to the service of the village, society and the people. I would die serving them,” he said.

“The agitation was not just for Delhi. I have launched 16 hunger strikes so far. We want the right to information. I fought for it for eight years for the benefit of the public and finally the government made a law,” he added.