Arvind Kejriwal must stop criticising Anna Hazare, says Ramdas Athawale

MUMBAI: Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal should not be "ungrateful" to his mentor and should desist from criticising Hazare, said Republican Party of India chief Ramdas Athawale here today.

"Hazare's nod to the Lokpal Bill is appropriate and Arvind Kejriwal should not criticise the anti-corruption activist," RPI chief Ramdas Athawale said in a press statement issued here.

Stating that Kejriwal should not criticise Hazare, he said RPI is strongly behind the 76-year old anti-graft activist, who is on an indefinite hunger strike at Ralegan Siddhi village to push the government to pass the Jan Lokpal Bill.

"We are standing strongly behind Anna and if they criticise him, the RPI will not allow Kejriwal and AAP to organise even a single rally in Maharashtra," Athawale said.

He said that Kejriwal should not make a mockery of the Lokpal Bill by calling it "joke pal".

"Hazare has studied the Lokpal Bill and the government has accepted the demand to bring the CBI and the Prime Minister under the purview of the Lokpal," he said.

"Kejriwal and his AAP succeeded because of Anna Hazare. So he must stop making ungrateful remarks and criticising his mentor," Athawale said.