`Kejriwal used Anna for making political party`

Social activist Anna Hazare had said that politics has split the anti-corruption movement that began nearly two years ago.

Zeenews Bureau

New Delhi: A day after Anna Hazare distanced himself from the political ambitions of his one-time team member Arvind Kejriwal, senior Congress leader Jagdambika Pal on Saturday said the veteran Gandhian was used by his team members for fulfilling their own agenda. Speaking in response to Anna Hazare`s blog posted on Friday, Pal said: "Now it is clear to everyone that Anna wanted to run campaign for Lokpal but Arvind Kejriwal and others used him for making political party. Now it is clear that they had the intentions of using Anna for their political ambitions." However, former aide of Hazare, Raju Parulekar, said: "Anna and Arvind split due to funds. There is no ideological difference between the two.” In his latest blog entry, Hazare said that “politics has split” the anti-corruption movement that began nearly two years ago. "Those who favour party have been saying that if Anna says, then they will not form a party. But despite that, they have decided to go ahead with the plan against my decision. Sometimes, it is also said they were forming the party because Anna has decided so. This is not right," he said. Hazare also decried efforts to link him with some parties and "communal" outfits, in an apparent reference to allegations that he is closing ranks with RSS through yoga guru Ramdev to run the anti-corruption movement after the split with the Kejriwal-led group. "Now, there is an effort to link me with some party, or communal organisation. I have never in my life been a part of any such organisation. Till my last breath, I will not be part of any such things...The movement has split due to politics. Efforts are on to destroy whatever is left now. People should not fall into such accusations. "As elections are nearing, some party will try to misuse my name to garner votes. They will try to associate myself with them. There will be misuse of movement`s name. You should not trust all these. The movement will remain movement only. Because it is sacred," he said. Hazare said that on August 04 in Jantar Mantar, he had made it clear that he will not form a party or join a party. "For the last 20 years, I have been part of civil society movement and in future also I will remain so. We have parted ways but our goal is the same," he said. (With PTI inputs)