‘He Never Listened…’: Anna Hazare Reacts To Arvind Kejriwal’s Decision To Step Down As Delhi CM
Anna Hazare said that he had asked the Delhi CM to do social work instead of politics. (File image)
Two days after getting out of Delhi’s Tihar Jail, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday announced to step down from his post.
After Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal announced to step down from the post of Delhi Chief Minister, social activist Anna Hazare on Sunday reiterated his advice to Kejriwal against joining politics. He said that the AAP leader never listened to him and ultimately, it happened what had to happen.
“I told him since the beginning that you should not join politics but serve the people. We have worked together for many years and told him the same thing. He never listened to me and today what had to happen has happened,” news agency PTI quoted Hazare as saying.
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The social activist from Maharashtra, who had become the face of the anti-corruption movement in 2011, said that he had asked the Delhi CM to do social work instead of politics.
VIDEO | “I told him since the beginning that you should not join politics but serve the people. We have worked together for many years and told him the same thing. He never listened to me and today what had to happen has happened,” says social activist Anna Hazare on Delhi CM… pic.twitter.com/o3WkRxfAGD— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 15, 2024
Earlier in April 2024, Hazare had slammed Kejriwal over his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the alleged liquor policy case, saying that “it was consequences” of his own action.
Kejriwal Shocks Everyone
In his first address to party workers after he walked out of prison, Kejriwal announced to step down from his post, a decision which comes as a shock for his AAP workers and even surprised his opponents BJP and Congress.
He said that he does not have a lust for power while vowing not to sit in CM’s chair till people give him a “certificate of honesty”.
“Given the current situation, the court has done everything it could in our favour. We are very grateful to the court. The court has given me bail, this was the most it could do at this stage. Now the case will proceed. My heart says that until I am acquitted by the court, I will not sit on the Chief Minister’s chair,” he said.
Kejriwal insisted that Delhi should go to polls along with Maharashtra, where assembly elections are likely in October. He also mentioned that until the elections are held, another member of the AAP will take over as the Chief Minister. “There are elections in February. I demand that the elections be held along with Maharashtra’s. Until the elections take place, someone else from the Aam Aadmi Party will become the Chief Minister,” he added.
The AAP chief released on bail from Tihar on Friday in the excise policy graft case.
Anna Movement
Kejriwal joined the Anna movement in 2011 against the then-Congress-led UPA government’s alleged corruption. Hazare and Kejriwal had observed many fasts unto death during the agitation, demanding an anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal from the Congress government at the Centre. Lakhs of people had rallied behind the two leaders.
Kejriwal rode on to fame, floated his own political party in 2012, and contested for the chief minister’s post in Delhi in 2013.
