Arvind Kejriwal is a clean man: Anna Hazare

Ralegan Siddhi/New Delhi: In a new twist, Anna Hazare today backed AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and said there is a concerted effort to tarnish “our names” in public.

Addressing the media, he said he had not called Kejriwal corrupt. “It is true I had asked for some clarifications (on funds) but that should not be construed as charges,” he said.

He admitted that there were differences between him and Kejriwal. But Anna sounded upset that an old conversation that took place over a year which was secretly taped is now being aired by TV channels. “This is a move to malign Kejriwal,” he said.

Minutes later, Kejriwal told the media in Delhi that he was pained to see that charges were being levelled against him alleging that he was corrupt. “This is very painful and not true”. He said he had never misused Anna’s name and alleged that the Congress and BJP were out to tarnish his image. “Very soon you may have new charges against Prasanth Bhushan too,” he added.

“We are here to fight corruption, and how can I be corrupt. I am ready for any probe,” he added. “Whatever I have earned, I have done so honestly. I shall respond to Annaji’s charges soon,” he said. 
Back in Ralegan, Anna said: “We are not enemies of each other. Even today I am happy that he is a man of character.... The issue is not of funds. Some delegations told me that SIM cards were issued in my name during the India Against Corruption (IAC) movement, the sale of which led to collection of funds.

"I have no connection in this regard but if somebody files a case then I may be made an accused. This is what I am worried about that without having any connection to it, my name could be dragged," Hazare told reporters in his village Ralengan Siddhi in Maharashtra yesterday too.

Meanwhile, in Delhi, the core committee of AAP met to decide on the new developments, especially on the charges of misuse of funds collected at the Anna rally last year. Kejriwal had clarified that he had not used the money and that he was ready to withdraw from the polls if the charges were true.

Anna Hazare on Tuesday sought answers from Kejriwal over "misuse" of his name in AAP's election campaign, even as party leaders alleged that "vested interest" were misinforming Hazare on the issue.

A day after Kejriwal demanded an open probe into Hazare's allegation of Aam Admi Party spending funds collected during Janlokpal movement saying that the Gandhian had written to him on the issue, Hazare said he was mainly concerned about "misuse" of his name in the poll campaign and maintained the two are "not enemies".

He had written a letter to Kejriwal saying he had received reports about use of his name in election campaign, use of fund collected during the anti-graft movement and on implementation of Janlokpal Bill on December 29 after convening an open session at Ramlila Maidan.

"They say that they will pass Anna Hazare's Janlokpal bill in Ramlila Maidan on December 29. Here again they are using my name and I did not understand that how are they claiming to pass a bill in assembly which can be passed only in parliament," Hazare said.

"I wrote this letter just to seek clarification on these two issues as I felt my name was being misused. I have no interest in the money, just my name should not be misused," he added.

Amid signs of increasing friction between the two, Kejriwal today alleged that Hazare aides were not allowing him to talk to his 'guru' despite his several attempts. His allegation came even as Hazare said that he was ready to talk to Kejriwal.

"I have told him (Kejriwal) that I am ready to talk. I did not know that he wanted to talk. If he wishes so, I am ready to talk," Hazare said. He, however, added that he would not engage in poll campaign for any party.

"I had tried to speak to him several times, but nowadays some intermediaries are not letting me talk to Anna. I had always been speaking to him," Kejriwal said.

Kejriwal, who was once Hazare's closest associate, on Monday denied that donations to Hazare's campaign were being spent by his AAP on its election campaign and said "if any irregularity was found he would not contest the elections to be held on December 4".

AAP leader Kumar Vishwas, who returned from Ralegan Siddi on Tuesday after handing over Kejriwal's reply to Hazare, alleged that the Gandhian was being "misinformed" by someone from Delhi on his name being used by Kejriwal.

Vishwas said Hazare was shown posters having his picture and those of Kejriwal and party candidates, which neither the party nor anyone conencted with it have published as per Hazare's instruction.

"Some people with vested interest were misinforming him, due to which he had written the letter and sought clarification from Arvind," he said. He also said when Hazare was told that he was not being allowed to speak to Kejriwal, he expressed surprise and said he was alway available on phone.