What's cooking between Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal?
Akash Deep Ashok December 16, 2013 | UPDATED 15:09 IST
Kerjiwal has not made even a single acrimonious statement against his former mentor, anti-corruption crusader and Gandhian Anna Hazare, ever since their fallout in 2012 which led the former IRS official to form a political party and contest polls. But the sheer timing of Hazare's fast and his newfound contentment with a toned-down version of Lokpal Bill indicate his inferred desire to have a share of the lightning his former chela has stolen from him.
The acrimony between Anna and Kejriwal has been going on for quite sometime. First, Anna alleged in a subdued tone that he suspected bungling in the funds collected from the sale of SIM cards during his fast at Jantar Mantar in Delhi in 2012. Then he alleged that he suspected funds collected by India Against Corruption were being used by AAP in its poll campaign.
Kejriwal came out clean of both these allegations. After some time, Anna put his foot down and said his photographs or name should not be used by AAP for its poll campaign.
Anna Hazare, right, speaks to Arvind Kejriwal, during their hunger strike in New Delhi August 2, 2012. Reuters/Adnan Abidi
All along these allegations through which Anna more than tried to let people know he was not with Kejriwal, the AAP chief negotiated his way very cleverly and denied Anna an opportunity to take away the hallo he gathered around him of being the harbinger of clean politics.
The results were the proof.
A few hours after the Delhi Assembly results were out, Anna said Kejriwal would have become the chief minister had he come out to campaign for him. His statement smacked of an oxymoron: his own regret of not being part of his former chela's glory and his assertion to the people that Kejriwal had just borrowed light from him while he himself wielded the torch.
While Kejriwal's popularity soared amazingly following his victory in Delhi Assembly polls, Anna started his fast just in time to steal the thunder he once had from his former disciple. Desperate for a victory, he has already made up his mind to settle for less on the issue of Lokpal Bill. As if it is more about the thunder that Lokpal!
What Anna is forgetting that ever since his former disciple deserted him, Kejriwal has honing his steering skills. He been dealing with wily and unscrupulous politicians and has beat them in their own game on their own turf.
He is far more astute now than he was when he shared the stage with Anna as his most trusted lieutenant.
After a verbal spat between AAP leader Gopal Rai and VK Singh in Ralegan Siddhi made it on to national news channels everywhere, AAP leader Manish Sisodia said, "Anna ji's anger is not an insult for us. He can say anything to us."
At the same time Kejriwal and AAP have made it clear that they will fight for a 'strong' Lokpal regardless of Anna's feelings on the matter. AAP leader Kumar Vishwas went on record saying that AAP belonged to the people of India and not to any one person, be it Kejriwal or even Anna.
On Sunday, Kejriwal held a press conference where he slammed the government saying the bill, in its current form, was not capable of prosecuting anyone. "The Lokpal Bill in its current form won't send a mouse to jail, forget a politician," he said.
AAP leader Prashant Bhushan who was also a part of the original team Anna said that it was important that the Lokpal was kept completely out of the ambit of the government, adding that in its current form, the bill was a complete betrayal.
While Kejriwal has suddenly become the symbol of hope for millions in the country who are done with the present political culture and are desperate for a change, Anna is flanked by a couple of people who have had their own share of controversies: General (retired) VK Singh and former IPS officer Kiran Bedi.
While Kejriwal has disciplined his men to be extra respectful to Anna so as to not besmirch their own clean image in the minds of the millions, Anna's team is surly and vindictive.
On the re-drafted Lokpal bill, Bedi tweeted that the bill was certainly not a 'joke' and those behind discrediting it perhaps just wanted to keep the issue alive and not let those guilty of corruption, be prosecuted.
General (retired) Singh who has been hobnobbing with BJP of late pointed his attack on Arvind Kejriwal at Ralegan Siddhi on Friday, "Some people think they are bigger than Anna."
Anna is old and is yet to recover from the shock of losing his most trusted hand in Kejriwal. He is advised by a band of opportunists who do not shy away from sharing political stages with Modi. All Anna wants is to see a conclusive end to a crusade he started a couple of years ago and in the process hopes to rekindle his popularity.
Kejriwal's case is different. Like Prometheus Unbound, he stole the thunder from the stage of Anna's fast venues in Delhi and has kept it blazing ever since. His path from here on might be strewn with dangers of unknown kind, there is a path in sight nonetheless.
Anna's road is drowned in dense fog. Nobody knows if there is a road ahead at all.
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