Pune, February 27 Social activist Anna Hazare welcomed the release of AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case on Friday, saying the court's verdict must be accepted as the judiciary is supreme.
The anti-corruption crusader also advised Kejriwal to work for society and the country, and not to think of himself or his party.
Commenting on his earlier critical remarks about Kejriwal concerning the excise policy case, he said that the court had not delivered any verdict at that time.
A court in the national capital on Friday discharged former Delhi chief minister Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia, and 21 others from the politically charged liquor policy case, and criticized the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for not finding any "overarching conspiracy or criminal intent" in the policy.
Kejriwal, arrested on March 21, 2024, by the Enforcement Directorate in the excise policy case, and later by the CBI, which was investigating the corruption charges, was released on bail after spending 155 days in jail.
"Our country runs on the judiciary. The judicial system is the supreme system in the country. Ours is a large country comprising several political parties, castes, religions and creeds, and still it is running properly because of the judicial system," Hazare told reporters at his native village Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district.
In the absence of a strong judiciary, criminal elements would gain upper hand and there would be a riot-like situation in the country, he said.
"Whatever I had said about Arvind Kejriwal regarding his involvement in the case was before any decision had come from the judiciary. At that time, the allegations were in the air. Now the judiciary has given its verdict that he had no role in the (wrongdoing). We have to accept the verdict," he said.
"Now the court has given its decision. In our democracy, we must respect the judiciary," he added, in response to his past critical comments about the former Delhi CM.
Hazare also described Kejriwal and former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia as his "karyakartas" (volunteers/activists).
"He was my karyakarta. He and Manish Sisodia were my karyakartas," he said.
When asked what piece of advice he would like to give to Kejriwal now, Hazare said, "Work for society and the country. Do not think about the self or the party."
Hazare, Kejriwal and Sisodia had emerged as the key faces of the 2011 'India Against Corruption' movement, which demanded the enactment of a strong Jan Lokpal Bill. The movement shook the Congress-led UPA government of that time.
Kejriwal later formed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and went on to win Delhi elections. Hazare, however, disassociated himself after the movement took a political turn.
Following Kejriwal's arrest in the case in March 2024, Hazare had criticised him, saying it was ironic that the one who was part of the Jan Lokpal movement, was held in a corruption case. He had also accused Kejriwal of betraying the trust of crores of countrymen and rued that political ambitions destroyed the 2011 anti-corruption movement.
