Former colleagues divided over graft allegations against Kejriwal

NEW DELHI: The explosive claims made by former Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra, against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, has elicited different reactions from people who have been associated with Kejriwal from the time he came to the fore during the India against Corruption (IAC) movement.

Kejriwal's former mentor Anna Hazare and former Aam Aadmi Party leader Yogendra Yadav were among the prominent leaders, who appeared divided over the corruption allegations.

While one section felt that graft charges need to be backed by solid evidence, the other was less than willing to jump with an endorsement of the Delhi Chief Minister.

Hazare, with whom Kejriwal started an apolitical anti-corruption movement in 2011, gave a measured response which could be read as criticism of his former disciple.

“It is unfortunate if he has accepted the cash. If the allegations are true, then he has shattered the movement. Probe will definitely reveal the truth,” he said.

Kiran Bedi, who is serving a term as Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, slammed Kejriwal over the corruption dealings in his party.

Using social media platforms, Bedi stated “Allegations of corruption made by a Minister claiming to be an eye witness, against his own CM needs an independent investigation forthwith.”

However, Swaraj India's Yogendra Yadav, who along with Prashant Bhushan was expelled after the 2015 polls for objecting to choice of candidates, felt that one needs to give solid evidence.

“I might agree with charges of power greed, arrogance, authoritarianism against Kejriwal, but charge of taking bribe need solid evidence,” Yadav said on Twitter, a view endorsed by Bhushan through a retweet.

Bhushan, who launched the Swaraj India with Yadav, also tweeted, “The true test of character comes in adversity. We are now seeing the true faces of AAP'S remnants as its ship sinks. What an opportunity lost.”

Senior AAP leader Kumar Vishwas created a flutter with a cryptic tweet, saying “I know Arvind for 12 years. After working with him for these many years, I can say that I cannot even think that Arvind Kejriwal will indulge in corruption.”

AAP MLA Somnath Bharti tweeted, “As much I know, Arvind could be anything but is someone who does not subscribe to corruption. His old associates will also vouch for it.”