Almost three years after parting ways, Arvind Kejriwal joins social activist Anna Hazare at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday at a protest — this time against the Centre’s land Ordinance. It will be Kejriwal’s first protest after becoming chief minister. In September 2012, the India Against Corruption (IAC) had split after Arvind Kejriwal, who was Hazare’s lieutenant at the time, announced his intention of floating a political party. Hazare had refused to support Kejriwal’s political ambitions. On Monday, Kejriwal, accompanied by his deputy Manish Sisodia, met Anna Hazare at Maharashtra Sadan. Sisodia announced that Kejriwal would participate in Anna’s protest on Tuesday. “We discussed the Delhi election results. We also talked about the Land Acquisition Ordinance and how AAP could extend support to him (Hazare),” Sisodia said. [related-post] Senior AAP leaders said that while there was no “mass mobilisation”, party volunteers and supporters will turn up in numbers at Jantar Mantar. “There is no need to mass mobilise because it is a one-day affair. If and when the jail bharo happens in four months, a decision will be taken then. But some supporters will be at the venue on Tuesday,” a leader said. Another leader said that the “opposition to the land ordinance” was a large part of the campaign in the rural belt, which the AAP swept in the Assembly polls. “Much is being read into Arvind (Kejriwal) joining Anna on stage. But what is actually important is that Delhi’s rural belt voted for us and our opposition to the ordinance was one of the factors,” said one AAP MLA, who did not want to be named. Kejriwal’s move is also politically symbolic, sending a signal that movements based out of Delhi require AAP’s blessings. Leaders said after a low turnout on day one, an increase in numbers on day two when Kejriwal is there would convey that message.
