Arvind Kejriwal offered Rs 2 crore to Anna Hazare: Reports

India

oi-Nairita

New Delhi , Sep 23: Post Team Anna split, relation between Anna Hazare and his former aide Arvind Kejriwal continues to make headlines. A recent report claimed that Kejriwal had offered Rs 2 crore to Anna who had refused to accept the money.

According to the report, Kejriwal's NGO Public Cause Research Foundation (PCRF) had kept Rs 2 crore, unspent funds of India Against Corruption (IAC).

The former RTI activist, whose ties with the Gandhian crusader came to an end over the former's decision to join politics, had visited Anna's village Ralegan Siddhi and offered the money to the latter few months back, the report informed.

A close aide of Anna was quoted as saying, "Arvindji had brought a cheque of an amount around Rs 2 crore. That was all the IAC money that PCRF had in its account then."

"This was the time when formation of a political party had become a bone of contention in the core team. Arvindji offered the cheque to Annaji. However, Annaji refused, and Arvindji returned to Delhi with the cheque," added the Anna aide.

Anna-Kejriwal split 'surprised and shocked' all those who thought that their combined crusade against corruption could make some dent in the graft-ridden establishment.

Different reports also emerged that certain right wing groups are behind the split, with fingers being pointed towards the role of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). As per reports in certain media channels, soon after Hazare made the separation announcement, there was a secret meeting called by Anna Hazare, Baba Ramdev and RSS functionaries on Wednesday night.

However, the yoga guru refuted all allegations regarding Team Anna split hurled against him.

"Those saying that I caused a split between Hazare and his associates are spreading a canard and indulging in petty politics. I had no role to play in this," Ramdev told a press coneference at Patnajali Yogpeeth in Haridwar.

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