Condemning the attack on his detractors at a function he attended in Nagpur, Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal today said anti-graft activists should not indulge in violence as it would weaken the fight.
"Those who were protesting against me are also a part of this movement. They are our friends. If they have any questions or suggestions or grievances, we will talk to them.
"We should not attack them. I also urge those friends who assaulted the protestors not to do this in future," he said.
Supporters of Kejriwal had attacked a group which had objected to Kejriwal's anti-government comments at a function in Nagpur yesterday.
Kejriwal said such violence was not only against the basic ethos and philosophy of the movement but would also weaken the movement.
"I apologise to those who were assaulted and invite them for discussions. If we have been doing anything wrong in the movement, I assure them that we will correct ourselves," he said in a statement.
He said in Nagpur, there was a huge gathering and the program went off quite well. "Almost at the end of the program, I was told by one of the organisers that some people were standing outside the hall with black flags protesting against me.
"I requested him to call them inside on the stage. That person came back after a while and told me that the police had taken them away. I announced from the stage that we are not against anyone and if anyone had any questions, we welcome them. If we are doing anything wrong, kindly let us know.
"Subsequently, I was told that there was news in some sections of media that I was booed by the audience etc. This was incorrect," he said, adding one has to win over people through love and dialogue and "beating them up would alienate them forever and divert the issues".
