Anna Hazare's decision to snap ties shocking: Arvind Kejriwal

Arvind Kejriwal today described Anna Hazare's decision to snap ties with the pro-politics group in the anti-corruption movement as "shocking and unbelievable" and said the veteran activist's principles will be the foundation of their party.

"We respect Anna Hazare, he is our guru and father. Yesterday's developments came as a complete surprise. It was shocking, unbelievable, unfortunate and sad," Kejriwal told reporters here after a meeting with some of the supporters to chalk out the next course of action.

Hazare yesterday announced the split with Kejriwal-led group, which is going ahead with its plan to form a party, saying they should not use his name or photo for the outfit they are planning to launch.

"Anna's photograph and name are printed in our hearts. We will continue to take his blessings and touch his feet. Anna's five principles will become foundation of our party," Kejriwal said.

Responding to Hazare's remarks that he does not go by a survey conducted through social networking sites, he claimed that it was the veteran activist who asked them to conduct a survey on whether to form a party or not.

"Anna had asked us to do the survey. Using SMS and Internet was his idea," he said.

Claiming that there is a sense of urgency to change the system, he said the country was on "sale and everything is being sold out. We have challenges as well as opportunities. In our view both Congress and BJP are the same."

Meanwhile, Kejriwal supporters took potshots at Hazare on social networking sites like Twitter, posts which were retweeted by India Against Corruption.

One tweet read, "Anna made people aware about corruption, but doesn't say, what to do with that awareness, Going political is only logical step" while another said, "need to change the script now! Let People write the script and not few who are disconnected from people." Another tweet blamed BJP for the split saying, "cheap politics played by BJP to kill the movement and destroy the effort to claen d political system."

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