“Arrested Because Of His Own Deeds” Anna Hazare On Kejriwal’s Arrest (image-twitter/amoxcicillin1)

Reacting to the arrest of Delhi chief minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, his former associate and social activist Anna Hazare on Friday said that he “is very upset” over the AAP convenor’s involvement in the liquor policies. He further alleged that the AAP leader was arrested due to his own deeds.

The Aam Aadmi Party leader was arrested on Thursday night by the Enforcement Directorate in a Delhi excise policy case. Prior to the arrest, Kejriwal has skipped nine ED summons.

Anna Hazare commenting on the incident said, “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 then added that whatever happens now should happen according to the law. Hazare and Kejriwal have observed many fasts unto death during the agitation, demanding an anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal from the Congress government at the Centre. And lakhs of people rallied behind the leaders. Later, Kejriwal and many other members of the non-profit India Against Corruption formed the Aam Aadmi Party. At that point of time, choosing to stay out of politics, Hazare gave his “blessings”. But he had expressed his criticism against the party on several occasions. Mr Kejriwal and his party avoided direct counters.

Hazare in the past too has spoken against the policy. He had also written a letter addressing 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,” he wrote.

The liquor policy which was implemented in November 2021 allowed private licenses to manage liquor stores, discontinuing retail sales. The policy was then revoked in September of the same year.