‘Kejriwal shattered my dream’: Hazare’s anguished cry

Ralegan-Siddhi (Maharashtra), April 7 (IANS) Veteran anti-corruption crusader Kisan Baburao alias Anna Hazare on Friday said he was pained to read about the allegations against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the Shunglu Committee Report.

"He was my colleague in the fight against corruption... At that time, I felt the educated new generation could help rid the country of graft. But it was a big dream -- and my dream lies shattered," Hazare said in an anguished note.

According to Hazare, when Kejriwal launched the (Aam Aadmi Party) political outfit, it was the Lord who gave him wisdom to keep away (from Kejriwal) or even "my reputation would been ruined".

"Since then, and even after he became the Chief Minister, I never felt a desire to meet him. Now, I understand why he always used to address me as his 'Guru'. The Lord has saved me," the 79-year-old said in a statement from his native Ralegan-Siddhi model village in Ahmednagar district.

He observed that Kejriwal was well aware that the nation was guided by the Constitution, but the manner in which Constitutional niceties have been subverted in Delhi, "I can never endorse and I condemn those who speak of undermining the nation and society".

Recalling the years he spent with Kejriwal, Hazare said the youth is a powerful force and once it awakens, it has the potential to change the country's future and how he looked up to Kejriwal with that expectation.

"I had taught him the five important principles of leadership -- Clean thoughts, Good conduct, Unblemished life, Sacrifice, and Ability to absorb insults -- which could help better the society and the nation," he said.

Citing his own life example, Hazaare said he lives in a temple, has no wealth, no power but just one bedroll and a plate to eat, owing to the five principles that he follows to the hilt even now.

"I used to tell this to Arvind and whenever he came here (Ralegan-Siddhi), he saw me practising it. But I fail to understand what is the lure of power which changes even the most intelligent of persons. Something similar seems to have happened with Kejriwal," Hazare said.

From the Shunglu Committee Report, "it is clear that (Kejriwal) never had clean thought or good conduct, no sacrifices, even his life has been scarred now with graft charges, and he was so drunk with power that he broke the laws as he didn't have capacity to digest insults", Hazare rued.