A scuffle broke out at a press conference called by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) here on Monday when a man, claiming to be one Nachiketa, a BJP activist from Ahmednagar in Maharashtra, threw ink at Arvind Kejriwal while he was addressing the media.

The man claimed that veteran social activist Anna Hazare was his ‘guru’ and he was upset at his ‘guru’ being misused by the AAP leader. Some slogans in support of Hazare were also raised at the press meet.

The conference had been called by Kejriwal to clear the air about a letter that he had received on Sunday from Hazare, who had sought clarification on certain ‘disturbing’ reports.

Hazare said he was upset as it had been brought to his notice that funds collected during the anti-corruption stir by the then ‘Team Anna’ were being used by AAP for its election campaign in Delhi.

He also expressed dismay over reports that Kejriwal’s campaigners were claiming his support for AAP and that his name was also being used to collect funds by using a sim card with his name embossed on it.

In his letter to Hazare, Kejriwal refuted all the allegations and urged the veteran activist to institute an independent inquiry. “If I am found guilty, I will take back my candidature from the Delhi Assembly elections,” adding that if he comes clear then Hazare should come to Delhi and campaign for him.

aditi.n@thehindu.co.in

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