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Corruption charges against Kejriwal: Anna 'speechless', Yogendra, Vishwas with him, Tiwari demands resignation

By FnF Correspondent | PUBLISHED: 07, May 2017, 18:31 pm IST | UPDATED: 08, May 2017, 20:25 pm IST

Corruption charges against Kejriwal: Anna 'speechless', Yogendra, Vishwas with him, Tiwari demands resignation New Delhi: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's one-time mentor and social crusader Anna Hazare on Sunday said he was "deeply disappointed" by the allegations of corruption against the AAP chief, who is in hot water after a minister claimed to have seen him receiving Rs 2 crore in cash.

"I've waged a war on corruption for the last 40 years and Arvind Kejriwal had once stood by me in this endeavour. It was the 'India Against Corruption' movement that raised Kejriwal to the position of Delhi chief minister.

" But now, these allegations of corruption against him are deeply disappointing. I'm speechless," Hazare told reporters at his native village Ralegan Siddhi.

Earlier in the day, sacked Delhi minister Kapil Mishra accused Kejriwal of taking Rs 2 crore from his cabinet colleague Satyendra Jain. Mishra's allegation comes at a time when the AAP is embroiled in an internal feud after a string of poor electoral performances.

"I saw with my own eyes Satyendar Jain giving Rs 2 crore in cash to Arvind Kejriwal at his residence. When I asked Kejriwal, he said such things happen in politics and it will be revealed later," Mishra said at a press conference earlier in the day.

Hazare did not comment whether or not he believed these allegations. However, when asked if this incident had crushed his dream of corruption-free nation, he replied in the affirmative.

"My dream was shattered the moment 3 out of 6 ministers (in the AAP cabinet) resigned. Now a minister in the party has claimed that he saw Kejriwal accepting Rs 2 crore... it makes me very sad," he lamented.

He added that the charges of corruption against Kejriwal and the party should be verified.

"The entire country is looking with great expectation towards our fight against corruption, so these charges need to be verified," he said.

Hazare had distanced himself from Kejriwal after the former taxman launched the Aam Aadmi Party in 2012 despite his objections. Since then, the anti-corruption crusader's remarks have indicated that all was not well between him and Kejriwal.

Last month, Hazare had strongly criticized Kejriwal after the Shunglu committee report indicted the AAP government for bypassing law, nepotism and financial irregularities among others. He's said he'd never support the way the Delhi government broke all rules and laws and panned Kejriwal for "forgetting all principles in the pursuit of power."

Meanwhile, senior AAP leader Kumar Vishwas came out in support of Arvind Kejriwal, saying he has known him for 12 years and even his enemies cannot imagine him taking a bribe.

His remarks came hours after Kapil Mishra, who was yesterday sacked as Delhi water minister, alleged that he saw Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain giving Kejriwal Rs 2 crore.

"We can disagree, fight or be disappointed with each other ... I know Arvind for 12 years and I can say that I cannot imagine him taking a bribe or being corrupt ... even his enemies cannot imagine this," he told reporters.

"Kejriwal has said this 100 times that he should be removed if he is corrupt. I have called Satyendra Jain and asked him to explain his position in the PAC ... whether he is being framed or has there been a mistake, we are ready for an investigation ... be it a ED or a CBI probe," Vishwas said.

He told reporters that the AAP's Political Affairs Committee will meet either in the evening or tomorrow.

"I feel sad about the allegations. Be it about the party's internal talks, discrepancies in ticket

Manoj Tiwari, the city unit chief of the BJP, said Kejriwal should step down if he has any morality left with him, within hours of Mishra's stunning charges of corruption against Kejriwal and Health Minister Satyendar Jain.

Tiwari said he would meet Lt Governor Anil Baijal later in the day and urge for his intervention in the matter.

"In case Kejriwal doesn't resign, the Lt Governor should examine the possibility of recommending 'dismissal' of the AAP-led Delhi government to the President," Tiwari said in a press conference.

"Kejriwal should resign if has any morality left with him because Kapil Mishra, who was a minister in the government has accused him of corruption. I am going to meet the Lt Governor in this regard," he added.

Meanwhile, Yogendra Yadav on Sunday asserted that he wouldn't believe the Delhi Chief Minister could take "bribe" unless it was supported by proper evidence.

Yadav told ANI, “If someone says Arvind Kejriwal is authoritarian, or he is political opportunist, or greedy, arrogant, I will believe. But if someone says he takes bribes, then we may need evidence."

Yadav also shot questions at Mishra. "Such serious evidences should not be thrown around and those who have made these allegations should be asked to produce evidence. I want to ask him what he was doing during all these years, if he knew about this," he added.

Mishra, whose surprise sacking came days after he sided with senior party leader Kumar Vishwas who has been at loggerheads with the AAP leadership, said he has given a statement to Lt Governor Anil Baijal regarding various irregularities seen by him during his two-year stint as a Cabinet minister in the Kejriwal government.

"I saw with my own eyes Satyendar Jain giving Rs 2 crore in cash to Arvind Kejriwal at his residence. When I asked Kejriwal, he said such things happen in politics and it will be revealed later," Mishra told reporters after paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial at Rajghat here.

He also alleged that Jain, the Health and PWD minister in AAP government, told him "personally" that he had "settled a land deal of Kejriwal's relative".

"Jain personally told me that he had settled a land deal worth Rs 50 crore of Kejriwal's relative. When I told Kejriwal, he said that it was a lie and asked me to have faith in him."

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said the allegations of corruption levelled by Mishra did not merit a response.

"His allegations do not merit a response. He has been sacked due to poor performance," Sisodia told reporters.

"The allegations are so absurd and there are no facts," he added.

The AAP had risen to power in Delhi on the promise of a corruption-free, transparent governance and its 'Aam Aadmi' appeal.
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