Congress attacks Kiran Bedi, Kejriwal

The Congress Saturday attacked AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi who joined the BJP recently, describing them as "opportunists."

Congress's face for the Feb 7 Delhi polls Ajay Maken said both the leaders - once together during the massive anti-corruption movement in 2011 - had used anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare to further their political ambitions.

Maken also said they had vowed not to join electoral politics in their lives.

Bedi, a former police officer, had strongly disapproved of Kejriwal for floating the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 2012 after the disbanding of India Against Corruption.

Bedi, who was earlier critical of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has now joined the party and is speculated to be its chief ministerial candidate for the Feb 7 Delhi polls.

"They had declared that they would never enter politics but used the anti-corruption movement for their ambitions," Maken told reporters here.

He also accused Kejriwal of misleading the people by making high-sounding promises and then reneging on them.

The Congress general secretary, accusing Kejriwal of breaking his promise of leading the life of an ordinary citizen if elected, said he soon forgot it - whether it was not using official car with blue beacon light, or taking security cover or big government accommodation.

Referring to a sworn affidavit filed by Kejriwal wherein he had made all these promises, Maken told newsmen that not only did Kejriwal avail of the official car with a beacon but even sought two houses with eight rooms after he became the chief minister of Delhi following the December 2013 assembly election.

He said the Congress would release a booklet next week showing how Kejriwal backtracked on his promises.

He said the booklet will expose Kejriwal and his party and project him as "a leader specialising in U-turns" and whose 49-day rule saw "a tale of miseries for the people of Delhi".

Kejriwal had said that he believed in Swaraj and would seek the consent of the people before doing anything, Maken said, asking did he go to the people before resigning as chief minister to fulfil his Lok Sabha ambitions.

Wondering how people could trust a person who does not blink before going back on his promises, Maken asked how can a person whose politics is founded on lies and false promises fight corruption.