Social activist Anna Hazare on Saturday said Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha and other Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) members would not have left the party to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had it followed its principles.
Hazare demands stricter anti-defection law
Hazare also demanded a stringent law to prevent elected representatives from switching parties when he was interacting with reporters in his village Ralegan Siddhi in Ahilyanagar district.
After Chadha and some other AAP members decided to quit the party, Hazare said, "If the nation and society's welfare remains the top priority, nobody will leave the party. The problem starts when power and wealth become the priority."
Chadha's resignation and allegations
While resigning from AAP, Chadha claimed that AAP had deviated from its original principles. He said six other MPs from the party would join BJP.
Reacting to Chadha's political move, Hazare said, "They must have faced some problems, which is why they left the party. There must be a strong reason for them to take that call. Ultimately, in a democracy, they have the freedom to choose their path."
Background of AAP formation
Hazare, along with AAP's national convener and Delhi's former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, had spearheaded a national campaign demanding a strong Lokpal Bill to fight corruption. Later, Kejriwal, along with some protesters, went on to form AAP.
Hazare's remarks come amid ongoing political realignments, highlighting the need for robust mechanisms to curb defections and uphold democratic values.
