Politics full of dirt, says Anna Hazare

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Maintaining strong opposition to entering politics as it is 'full of dirt', Anna Hazare on Sunday claimed that he did not get answers from Arvind Kejriwal-led group on questions raised by him on how to organise a political alternative.

Hazare, who arrived here on Sunday morning and met activists to chalk out the next course of action on an apolitical anti-corruption movement, said the path of 'politics is not sacred and it is full of dirt' but the route of agitation is 'sacred'.

Contending that a big movement and not politics will give the country its future, the activist said he had told the pro-party group that the route of politics was 'not the right direction'.

"I did not give an alternative. When I was told that an alternative has to be given, I said it is a good idea but I asked them to answer my 5-6 questions (on how to provide an alternative). But I did not get those answers," he told reporters.

Hazare was referring to the questions he raised like how will members of a new party will be selected, where will the money come from and how will the candidates for elections will be selected among others.

The activist's fresh salvo against Kejriwal came two days after he wrote in a blog that the anti-corruption group split due to 'politics' within and not because of any attempts by government.

"If I had to enter elections I would have done it when I would have done it much earlier. I have not even fought Panchayat elections. When I talk about alternative, I am not talking about political alternative," he said.

He said he will be talking to activists, retired bureaucrats and others in the next couple of days about the next course of action.

"Politics is not the right direction. If politics would given us a bright future, then why India once called a golden bird had to mortgage gold. This country will not get the right future from politics," he said.

This is his first visit to the capital after his split with Kejriwal. Hazare will return to Ralegan Siddhi on Monday.