Veteran social activist Anna Hazare has publicly welcomed the Delhi court’s decision to discharge Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi liquor‑policy case, while also urging the AAP chief to refocus on public service rather than politics. In a statement released from his village in Ahmednagar, Hazare said it is important to accept the verdict of the Rouse Avenue Court, which discharged Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and 21 other accused in the excise‑policy matter. The court held that there was no evidence of an “overarching conspiracy or criminal intent” behind the policy formulation, Hazare noted.

Hazare emphasized that the judiciary is supreme and that the country functions smoothly only when its courts are respected. “Now that the court has given its verdict, we must accept it,” he said, adding that his earlier sharp criticism of Kejriwal was articulated before any judicial finding. The activist clarified that while he still stands by his earlier moral disapproval of Delhi’s liberal liquor‑policy move, the legal outcome now stands as the final word and must be treated with institutional seriousness.

For years, Hazare had openly questioned Kejriwal’s stance on alcohol, recalling that the AAP leader once positioned himself as a crusader against liquor and corruption during the India Against Corruption movement. In the past, Hazare had written open letters accusing Kejriwal of being “drunk on power” and argued that the controversial excise policy had damaged both Kejriwal’s personal standing and the AAP’s image. With the court now granting him a clean chit, Hazare has drawn a clear distinction between his earlier ethical objections and the current legal reality. He said political leaders and citizens alike must learn to separate personal opinions from judicial decisions.

Hazare also reminded Kejriwal of his roots as a grassroots karyakarta (volunteer) during their anti‑corruption campaigns, and urged him to return to that spirit of public service. “It is time to put politics aside and focus on the people,” the activist said, suggesting that leaders who once championed transparency should not let short‑term political gains erode their long‑term credibility. The comments are being seen as a softening of Hazare’s earlier harsh tone, but also as a renewed insistence that legal relief does not automatically erase the expectation of moral accountability from a former anti‑corruption icon.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from NDTV.