Kejriwal will make a good CM, but he must not repeat mistakes: Anna

Social crusader Anna Hazare said the Delhi assembly election result was Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s defeat and a reflection of the BJP’s loss of credibility.He also offered a bit of advice to AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal: keep it simple and don’t repeat past mistakes.

“Modi addressed six massive election rallies in Delhi,“ Hazare told reporters at Ralegan Siddhi village. “His party had promised the Lokpal and Lokayukta acts, (and to) bring back black money and deposit Rs 15 lakh in the bank account of every citizen. But months after forming the government, his promises have not been fulfilled.“ He said the decision to amend the Land Acquisition Act was another sore point.

Hazare said he was confident Kejriwal would do well as chief minister, but cautioned him against repeating his mistakes like resigning from the post midway and having a grand swearing-in ceremony at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan.“I’ll tell him to keep it simple,“ he said. “He’ll win the confidence of people even more if he remains simple.“ He said people were convinced that Kejriwal would protect their interests and fight for them.
The social activist did not blame his former ally and BJP’s CM candidate Kiran Bedi for the saffron party’s drubbing in Delhi. He said it was the people’s verdict. “She is good but it was her mistake to join the party ,“ he said. “If she quits the party and decides to join me and the proposed agitation, I’ll welcome her.“
Hazare said he was all for Kejriwal supporting his agitation seeking enforcement of the Lokpal bill, but clarified the AAP chief would have to do so from the outside. The activist said he would not allow anybody associated with a political party to join the agitation.
Hazare said Kejriwal could win the confidence of the people because he had been associated with his [Hazare’s] antigraft movement. “I would request him to never forget that,“ he said. “In fact, even when he becomes the CM, I’ll tell him never to give up agitations and oppose any wrongdoing. I’m convinced that agitations will ensure a bright future for the country and Arvind has experienced it too.“

Hazare said he had excellent relations with `good’ politicians. “I’ll not make a sweeping statement that people who are in politics are all bad,“ he said. “There are good people like Bedi and Kejriwal. My goal is to unite good people and build a strong `jansansad’ that will keep pressure on Parliament, especially if something wrong is being done.“