Conspiracy to mislead Anna against us: Kejriwal

“We have challenged all the powerful people. There are so many vested interests which are working to malign us”

IANS/New Delhi

Aam Admi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal yesterday denied his party was misusing the name of Anna Hazare during the Delhi assembly election campaign and charged that there was a conspiracy to mislead the social activist.

“Anna said yesterday that some people showed him posters with his photo being used for AAP. We told Anna that the posters were not real,” Kejriwal said.

“It means fake posters were printed. There is a conspiracy to mislead Anna against us,” Kejriwal said.

He also said his party was not using Hazare’s name in its election campaigning.

“When I say Anna Hazare fasted for Janlokpal, it is a historical fact. People don’t understand Janlokpal, so I say Anna’s Lokpal bill. I always say it is not Anna’s party. Still if he has objections, I will not use the term Anna’s Lokpal,” Kejriwal told reporters.

The activist-turned-politician said AAP was being targeted by several “vested interests.”

“We have challenged all the powerful people. There are so many vested interests which are working to malign us. More may come out in the next 48 to 72 hours.

“Manish (Sisodia), Prashant (Bhushan) all will be targetted,” Kejriwal said referring to his party colleagues.

He, however, added he felt saddened by Hazare’s allegations.

“I have only earned honesty in my life and when my ‘Guru’ questions me, I feel sad. If there is any misappropriation, I will not fight the polls,” he said.

Asked if he would talk to Hazare, Kejriwal said he was not being allowed to do so.

“How do I talk to Anna, they don’t give the phone to him,” Kejriwal said.

Hazare meanwhile said he never alleged that Kejriwal was corrupt or that the AAP leader siphoned off money.

“If someone says Arvind Kejriwal and Anna Hazare are fighting, it is wrong. I never said Kejriwal is corrupt,” Hazare told reporters in his hometown of Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra yesterday, a day after a war of words erupted between him and Kejriwal over funds collected during India Against Corruption movement.

“I have always kept away from money. All I said was that several crores were collected in the movement but I never even took Rs5 from it. However, I did not say Arvind Kejriwal took all the money. This is not an allegation,” Hazare said.

A video aired on television channels on Tuesday showed Hazare telling his confidants “billions of rupees were collected during the movement in my name. I did not even take Rs5.”

“The clip that is being played is very old,” Hazare said.

He said what is a matter of concern is that his name is being misused by AAP.

“The current issue of concern is the SIM cards they sold in my name. I am not a party to it,” Hazare said.

The activist said someone had filed a petition in a court related to the SIM cards sale.