Anna tape: Hazare says conspiracy to malign both Arvind Kejriwal and him

NEW DELHI: Even as the apparent rift between social activist Anna Hazare and Aam Aadmi Party ( AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal comes to the fore, a December 2012 video accessed by Times Now news channel shows Hazare discussing about the use of money collected during IAC protests.

In the video Hazare is believed to have said that he has not used even Rs 5 from the funds collected during IAC agitations. "They collected data and that is used at the time of election," Hazare is supposed to have said.

Commenting on the video, Kejriwal said, "It's a Cong-BJP conspiracy. I am hurt by Anna's video." According to Kejriwal, The release of the video footage is politically motivated."

Hazare on his part has said that there is a conspiracy to malign both Arvind Kejriwal and him. "I have never said Arvind Kejriwal is corrupt. There is a difference of opinion with Arvind. I am writing to him again," he said. Earlier this week, Hazare sought answers from Arvind Kejriwal over "misuse" of his name in AAP's election campaign, even as party leaders alleged that "vested interest" were misinforming Hazare on the issue.

After Kejriwal demanded an open probe into Hazare's allegation of Aam Admi Party spending funds collected during Janlokpal movement saying that the Gandhian had written to him on the issue, Hazare said he was mainly concerned about "misuse" of his name in the poll campaign and maintained the two are "not enemies".

"We are not enemies of each other. Even today I am happy that he is a man of character.... The issue is not of funds. Some delegations told me that SIM cards were issued in my name during the India Against Corruption (IAC) movement, the sale of which led to collection of funds.

"I have no connection in this regard but if somebody files a case then I may be made an accused. This is what I am worried about that without having any connection to it, my name could be dragged," Hazare had said.

He had written a letter to Kejriwal saying he had received reports about use of his name in election campaign, use of fund collected during the anti-graft movement and on implementation of Janlokpal Bill on December 29 after convening an open session at Ramlila Maidan.