Kejriwal, Sisodia to sit on dharna with Anna today

NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and deputy CM Manish Sisodia will sit on dharna at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday to protest against the Centre’s ordinance on land acquisition. Anna Hazare, who has in the past refused to share the stage with any political leader, has welcomed his former aide to join the movement, said sources.
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Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia with Anna Hazare at a meeting at Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi on Monday.(PTI photo)
“Anna is like a father figure for us. We will support him fully and even share the stage with him. Both Kejriwal and I will be sitting with him on Tuesday from 3pm after the Vidhan Sabha session,” said Sisodia. Both AAP members had an hour-long meeting with the anti-corruption crusader at Maharashtra Sadan on Monday around 6pm.
Sources said AAP members have convinced the Gandhian of mobilizing large numbers of supporters to participate in the dharna.
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AAP’s decision comes after a poor show on the first day of protest where less than a 1,000 people had gathered. “We had given a call to party workers but it was too late by then. Also, there was confusion on whether Annaji would acknowledge our presence. Now that Kejriwal is joining the movement, the government will have to give in to the rightful demands being made by the protestors,” said a senior AAP member.
READ ALSO: Low turnout, but Anna unfazed
Speaking to TOI on Friday, Hazare had said that he was happy with Kejriwal’s electoral victory. “I am confident that Kejriwal will run the government successfully and set an example for other state governments in eradicating corruption,” he had said.
Read this story in Hindi: केजरीवाल ने छुए अन्ना के पैर, धरने पर साथ बैठेंगे