Arvind Kejriwal once spoke out against liquor, but…: Anna Hazare

New Delhi:

“I told him many times not to drink, but he came up with this policy for more money.” This is what social activist Anna Hazare said in the liquor policy case against his former protégé and Delhi chief One of the many harsh remarks made by Minister Arvind Kejriwal after his arrest. While several opposition leaders have publicly backed Mr Kejriwal, Anna Hazare said the Aam Aadmi Party should not have a liquor policy.

“I feel very sad that someone like Arvind Kejriwal, who I worked with and spoke out against alcoholism, is today formulating policies on alcoholism,” he said.

“But what can be done? What is happening now should happen in accordance with the law,” the activist added.

#watch | Ahmednagar, Maharashtra: On ED’s arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, social activist Anna Hazare said, “I am very upset. Arvind Kejriwal, who I used to work with, spoke out against alcoholism, but Now there is an alcohol policy. He was arrested because of his own doing…” pic.twitter.com/aqeJEeecfM

— ANI (@ANI) March 22, 2024

Anna Hazare was the face of the 2011 anti-corruption movement from which AAP was born. At the time, despite opting out of the party – to avoid electoral politics – he gave the party his “blessing”. But he has since criticized the party on several fronts. Kejriwal and his party have avoided direct counterattacks.

The ED reasoned that the Delhi Liquor Policy 2021-22 provides a very high profit margin of 12 per cent to wholesalers and nearly 185 per cent to retailers. Of the 12 per cent, 6 per cent was recovered from wholesalers as kickbacks to AAP leaders, while the ‘South Group’ allegedly paid in advance to another accused with links to AAP, Vijay Nair ) provided Rs.

Mr Hazare has also spoken out against the policy in the past. He had written to Arvind Kejriwal in 2022, expressing his “pain” over the policy.

“This is the first time I am writing to you since you became First Minister because I am distressed by recent news reports about your government’s alcohol policy. Like wine, power is intoxicating. It seems you have been Intoxicated by power,” Anna Hazare wrote in a letter to Mr Kejriwal.

AAP claimed that Arvind Kejriwal will continue to serve as Delhi chief minister despite his arrest. Sources said Mr Kejriwal will now approach the trial court challenging his arrest as per the protocol. The chief minister, who spent the night at the education ministry office on Delhi’s Abdul Kalam Road, will also appear before a special court handling the investigation agency’s case.