Man throws black paint at AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal

NEW DELHI: Long festering tensions between Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal burst into the open on Monday, with the veteran anti-corruption campaigner questioning his one time protégé whether he was using money collected during their India Against Corruption movement for the Aam Aadmi Party.

Kejriwal denied his party was using IAC funds, and challenged Hazare to run checks. “I have written back to Annaji asking him to institute an inquiry into this matter and let a retired judge head it,” he said. “Our party is for transparency and if this probe finds us guilty of utilising IAC money then I will not contest Delhi elections.

But if I come out clean, I will request him to campaign for us,” Kejriwal told a press conference in which he made the communication between him and Hazare public.

Donations to the AAP, which has raised Rs 20 crore from the public, are under the government scanner amid allegations of foreign funding. Kejriwal’s conference had its moment of drama as an alleged BJP worker from Maharashtra threw black ink at the AAP leader and shouted slogans in favour of Anna.

“Anna has always requested AAP to not use his name, but he (Kejriwal) always keeps dragging him in,” said the attacker, Nachiketa Walnekar, as he was escorted outside. Later in the day, BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman condemned the attack on Kejriwal in a tweet acknowledging that Nachiket was associated with BJP’s IT Cell till 3 years ago. Hazare’s missive to Kejriwal also reiterated his request to keep his name away from AAP campaign.