Ahmednagar (Maharashtra):

Hours after Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national Convenor Arvind Kejriwal announced his decision to resign from the top ministerial position on Sunday, mere days after being released on bail in the Delhi excise policy case, social worker Anna Hazare reacted to the development.

The Gandhian social activist commented that he had advised Mr Kejriwal against entering politics long ago, but he did not heed his advice.

Anna Hazare, who had previously led an anti-corruption movement with Mr Kejriwal at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan, remarked: “I had already advised Kejriwal not to enter politics. I explained multiple times that true fulfilment lies in social service, but he did not listen. I have been saying from the beginning that Arvind Kejriwal should not have ventured into politics. He chose not to heed my advice.”

Mr Hazare further added, “What has happened now was inevitable. I cannot know what is in Arvind Kejriwal’s heart.”

Notably, this is not the first instance of Anna Hazare responding to developments involving Arvind Kejriwal.

Previously, Mr Hazare had voiced his disappointment over Mr Kejriwal’s arrest in the Delhi excise policy case.

At that time, Mr Hazare expressed his frustration, stating, “I am deeply upset that Arvind Kejriwal, who once worked with me and spoke out against liquor, is now involved in formulating liquor policies. His arrest is a consequence of his own actions.”

Meanwhile, it’s important to highlight that Anna Hazare’s comments come in the wake of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s announcement that he will resign from his post in two days and push for early elections in the national capital. Kejriwal has vowed not to return to the Chief Minister’s chair until he receives a “certificate of honesty” from the people. Kejriwal, who was recently granted bail in the excise policy corruption case, stated, “I will only resume my role as Chief Minister after the people give me a certificate of honesty. I wish to undergo this ‘agnipariksha’ after my release from jail.”

He further declared, “Until the elections are conducted, someone else will serve as Chief Minister. Both Manish Sisodia and I will refrain from assuming the position of Chief Minister.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

“I told him many times to avoid liquor, but he made the policy for more money.” This is one of many scathing remarks by social activist Anna Hazare on the arrest of his former mentee, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in the liquor policy case. While several opposition leaders have come out in support of Mr Kejriwal, Anna Hazare has said that the Aam Aadmi Party shouldn’t have made the liquor policy.

“I am very saddened, that a man like Arvind Kejriwal, who used to work with me and had raised his voice against liquor, today he is preparing liquor policy,” he said.

“But what can be done? Whatever happens now should happen according to the law,” the activist added.

#WATCH | Ahmednagar, Maharashtra: On ED arresting Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Social activist Anna Hazare says, “I am very upset that Arvind Kejriwal, who used to work with me, raise his voice against liquor, is now making liquor policies. His arrest is because of his own deeds…” pic.twitter.com/aqeJEeecfM

— ANI (@ANI) March 22, 2024

Anna Hazare was the face of the anti-corruption movement in 2011, from which the AAP emerged. At the time, while choosing to stay out of the party — avoiding electoral politics — he gave it his “blessings”. But he has since criticised the party on several points. Mr Kejriwal and his party have avoided direct counters.

The ED’s case is that the Delhi liquor policy 2021-22 provided an exceptionally high-profit margin of 12 per cent for wholesalers and nearly 185 per cent for retailers. Of the 12 per cent, 6 per cent was to be recovered from wholesalers as kickbacks for AAP leaders, and the “South Group” allegedly gave Rs 100 crore in advance to another accused, Vijay Nair, who was linked to the AAP.

Mr Hazare has in the past too spoken against the policy. he had written a letter to Arvind Kejriwal in 2022 expressing his “pain” over the policy.

“This is the first time I am writing to you since you became chief minister, because I am pained at recent news reports about your government’s liquor policy. Like liquor, power too intoxicates. You are intoxicated by power, it seems,” Anna Hazare had written in the letter to Mr Kejriwal.

Arvind Kejriwal will continue as the Delhi Chief Minister despite the arrest, AAP has asserted. Mr Kejriwal, sources said, will now approach a trial court against the arrest, in accordance with protocol. The Chief Minister – who spent the night at the ED’s office on Delhi’s Abdul Kalam Road – will also be produced before a special court that deals with the probe agency’s cases.