Anna keeps pressure on Kejriwal

Social activist Anna Hazare Wednesday kept the pressure on former aide Arvind Kejriwal, alleging that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader was misusing his name for political gain in the Delhi assembly polls while denying he charged him with siphoning off money.

"The current issue of concern is the SIM cards they sold in my name. I am not a party to it," said Hazare.

He said someone had filed a petition in a court related to the sale of SIM cards.

The reaction came a day after a war of words broke out between Hazare and Kejriwal over funds collected during the India Against Corruption movement in 2011 when Hazare fasted for 12 days at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, triggering mass protests in solidarity.

However, Hazare said he never alleged Kejriwal is corrupt or he siphoned off money.

"If someone says Arvind Kejriwal and Anna Hazare are fighting, it is wrong. I never said Kejriwal is corrupt," Hazare told reporters.

The Congress termed the spat a "guru-chela" affair.

"This is a guru-chela (master-pupil) war. What does the Congress have to do with it. It is only a sideshow," Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said in Panaji.

Kejriwal denied that AAP was misusing Hazare's name during the Delhi assembly poll campaign and charged that there was a conspiracy to mislead the social activist.

"Anna said yesterday (Tuesday) that some people showed him posters with his photo being used for AAP. We told Anna Hazare the posters were not real," said Kejriwal.

"It means fake posters were printed. There is a conspiracy to mislead Anna Hazare against us," he said.

He also denied using Anna Hazare's name in the party's election campaigning.

"When I say Anna Hazare fasted for Jan Lokpal, it is a historical fact. People don't understand Jan Lokpal, so I say Anna's Lokpal bill. I always say it is not Anna's party. Still if he (Anna Hazare) has objections, I will not use the term Anna's Lokpal," he told reporters.

The activist-turned-politician said AAP was being targeted by several "vested interests".

"We have challenged all the powerful people. There are so many vested interests who are working to malign us. More may come out in next 48 to 72 hours.

He, however, added he felt saddened by Anna's allegations.

"I have only earned honesty in my life and when my 'guru' questions me, I feel sad. If there is any misappropriation, I will not fight the polls," he said.

Asked if he would talk to Anna Hazare, Kejriwal said he was not being allowed to do so.

"How do I talk to Anna, they don't give the phone to him," Kejriwal said.