Lauding the Aam Aadmi Party’s massive success in the Delhi Assembly election and expressing happiness on the triumph of his former protégé and once-trusted lieutenant, AAP leader Arwind Kejriwal, veteran anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, remarking that the people of the country had lost faith in the Modi government.
“This [Delhi election] is Narendra Modi’s defeat. The Bharatiya Janata Party’s rout should not be blamed on Kiran Bedi alone,” said Hazare, addressing reporters at his village in Ralegan Siddhi in Ahmednagar district Tuesday morning as reports of the AAP’s landslide win streamed in.
Expressing pride that Kejriwal’s political genesis had its origins from his avowedly non-political 'India Against Corruption' movement, the 77-year-old activist however said he was not likely to attend Kejriwal’s swearing-in ceremony. He said that as yet he had not received any communication from Kejriwal.
Asked whether he had any advice for Kejriwal, the septuagenarian activist quipped: “Arvind knows how to run a government. He is a graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology in Kharagpur. He is extremely clever and skilful. Who am I to give him any advice?”
Hazare said his best wishes were always with Kejriwal and expressed hope that the AAP would avoid the pitfalls that may have plagued its past term in power in Delhi.
Stating that people had decisively given their verdict, he heaped censure on the Modi government’s passing of the ordinance on the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 on the pretext of 'easing land acquisition'.
“What sort of an ordinance is this? Snatching fertile farmlands from farmers and giving them to corporates. People have been betrayed by the actions of the BJP government. Its tall promises of ‘Achche Din’ have proven utterly hollow,” said Hazare, flaying the Central government.
(This story first appeared in The Hindu online edition)