Former Supreme Court Judge N Santosh Hegde expressed his “complete disappointment” with Delhi Chief Minister and leader of the Aam Aadmi Party Arvind Kejriwal today, following his apprehension in relation to a money-laundering case involving an excise policy.
Former Solicitor General of India Justice (retd) Hegde was one of the main figures behind the then-‘India Against Corruption’ movement, led by Anna Hazare, more than ten years ago. At the time, the movement had sharply focused attention on the problem of corruption. Other prominent figures behind the movement included Mr. Kejriwal.
Regarding the Arvind Kejriwal case, he declared, “It clearly shows that when in power, greed overtakes you.”
“I am totally disappointed. I thought AAP (after it came to power) will uphold administrative fairness which is not there. And it is an indication of the fact that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” he told Press Trust of India.
After a part of the movement became a political party (AAP), Justice (retd) Hegde, the former Karnataka Lokayukta, came out of it.
“Special reason for coming out was that politics today is a den of corruption. No political party is free from it. The India Against Corruption movement was fighting against corruption in administration.
Our guiding philosophy has always been to avoid politics and to work toward keeping politics clean. However, a group of people later made the decision that we should go into politics and clean it up, which is how the AAP was formed. I never thought this could be done successfully. And I believe that what’s occurring in the AAP right now is an illustration of what I believed to be true,” Mr. Hegde stated.
He said that although Arvind Kejriwal had called him at home to invite him to the party, he had declined.
Mr. Hegde also discussed his opinions on the frequently made accusations by opposition parties that the NDA government, led by the BJP, targets and abuses investigative agencies like the ED and CBI in cases of corruption.
“Allegation of parties in opposition that the ruling party is doing it only for destroying opposition, I don’t believe it. Yes, they are selectively doing this. But that is no offence at all. Because in criminal jurisprudence, there is no Article 14 (of the Constitution)…does not apply equality.
“And one day when they will come to power, they will go against the BJP. So, ultimately there will be complete justice, is it? If they don’t do it against the opposition, then when they come to power they won’t do it against these people also. At least 50 per cent justice is being done now,” he said.
In the coming Lok Sabha elections, Hegde said he wants every eligible person to vote.
“Vote not based on any caste, or any affiliation whatsoever, vote based on the quality of the candidate. If you don’t find a suitable candidate who would serve your constituency, then there is NOTA (None of the Above). Vote for NOTA. That will send a message to political parties that every ‘Tom, Dick and Harry’ is not a suitable politician,” he said.
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