In a fresh salvo fired at his erstwhile protege and president of Aam Aadmi Party Arvind Kejriwal, anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Tuesday said the latter is no different from the other political leaders in the system.
Categorically ruling out any support to Kejriwal during these elections, Anna raised questions over the constitution of AAP and its members. Anna, who spearheaded the nationwide movement against corruption that forced the UPA Government to enact the Lokpal Act, accused Kejriwal of deviating from the very principles that he fought for.
Kejriwal may be a good a man but the same cannot be said about the integrity of other members of his party, he said. Expressing disapproval of Kejriwal’s entry into politics, Anna said, “I am still waiting for his (Kejriwal) reply to the five questions I had asked him after he decided to form a political party”.
Anna also termed his own decision to back West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the 2014 elections a mistake. “I dissociated myself after realising that many unwanted elements are in her party”, he said.
Reiterating his stand for rejecting the concept of party-based governments, Hazare said time has come for people in the country to wake up and organise themselves and reject any party-based government.
“Nowhere in the Constitution is it mentioned that elections to the Lok Sabha will be held on party basis. For this, there is a need to create awareness among the people to elect people with integrity and clean image,” the anti-corruption crusader said.
Hazare said he will tour the country after the general elections to create awareness among the people for a people’s democracy without any political party.
“We have to end this contractor and corporate driven democracy and elect a government which fulfils the aspirations of the common people,” he said.
The septuagenarian activist said if money power is weakened, then the common man’s voice will be heard and people will not allow corrupt candidates to emerge victorious.
Hazare said a national level committee comprising 30 members will be constituted which will prepare the blueprint to end party-based politics. On his support to candidates in this election, Anna said he favours Balasaheb Darade, an independent candidate contesting for Buldhana Lok Sabha seat in Maharashtra.