Mumbai:
Arvind Kejriwal has concealed information about a massive scam in Maharashtra because he is selective about which politicians he targets - that's the allegation made today by YP Singh, a former senior police officer who now works as a Right to Information activist.
Mr Singh has accused Mr Kejriwal of burying a "mega-scam" around the controversial hill town of Lavasa, being built near Pune.
He said that about two years ago, Mr Kejriwal and he pieced together the details of this alleged scandal, which principally involved a senior politician. "The evidence that I have against this minister and will expose today is solid. It will stand legal scrutiny," Mr Singh said.
Instead of this, "he came up with a damp squib...a very frivolous allegation," said Mr Singh, referring to Mr Kejriwal's revelations about BJP president Nitin Gadkari, declared yesterday at a much-hyped press conference.
Mr Kejriwal said that Mr Gakdari had grabbed 100 acres of farmers' land in collusion with the NCP-Congress government in Maharashtra. Mr Kejriwal said that instead of serving as an opposition leader, and holding the government accountable, Mr Gadkari had accepted illicit favours for his vast business interests in Maharashtra. In return, Mr Kejriwal accuses, the BJP has been soft on the government over an irrigation scam that is worth nearly 70,000 crores.
Mr Gadkari said it was "laughable" to describe him as a businessman. He said that the land given to him was granted on an 11-year lease to a charitable trust.