Anna praises Modi govt, says Kejriwal got ‘carried away’

He seems to have a vision, says Anna Hazare.

Anna Hazare in Ralegan Siddhi on Thursday. (Source: Express photo by Pavan Khengre)

Social activist Anna Hazare on Thursday praised the BJP-led government at the Centre, saying it seemed like “achchhe din aane wale hain (good days are coming)”. Hazare, however, criticised AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal for getting “carried away” and thinking “he could now become Prime Minister”.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Hazare said, “The new government paints a promising picture for the future. Maybe it does seem like achchhe din aane wale hain.” He, however, added that his newly-constituted Asli Azaadi Abhiyaan would keep a close watch on PM Narendra Modi and his ministers for the next four-six months, and would launch a countrywide agitation if it felt that they were not delivering on their promises.

Praising Modi’s instructions to his ministers to refrain from including kin as personal staff and to consider the opinion of the people while framing policies, he said, “He seems to have a vision”. Hazare said the clear mandate means the government can do a lot for development of the country, unlike a khichdi government fraught with instability.

“The public was sick of corruption, and the fact that this is the first thing this government is tackling with the formation of the SIT (on black money) is a good sign. It probably never even crossed the mind of the earlier government to do something like this, perhaps because most of their own ministers were involved in so many scams — and they paid for this attitude,” he said. Incidentally, the government set up the SIT on the orders of the Supreme Court.

Hazare attributed Modi’s win to his charisma and oratory skills, as well as the failure of the Congress government.“People do not like dynastic governments anymore. This party of ma, beta and now beti was doomed,” he added.

Asked if he missed not going for the swearing-in ceremony, he said, “There was no invitation, so there was no question of going. But I sent my best wishes to Modi through the media.”

On Kejriwal, Hazare said, “I knew Kejriwal could not stand up to Modi in Varanasi when I saw the latter’s sway over the public. Kejriwal got carried away when he saw the people’s support that made him the Delhi CM. He thought he could now become PM too. I told him to make Delhi a model of development in the next five years and then replicate that in the country, but his thinking changed. Now he admits it was wrong and has said sorry, but what is the use? Also he had no right to make corruption allegations on anyone without proof, obviously the other person would slap defamation charges and the court would call for his arrest.”

Sunanda Mehta

Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry. Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune. Professional Background Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city. Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include: The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author. Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023) Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024) Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues. Core Column: "Against All Odds" Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges. Recent notable articles (2025) The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic. Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer. Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape: 1. Personal Narratives & Closure "'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal. "A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US. "'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune. 2. Civic & Heritage "'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs. "'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties. 3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations "Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals. "Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation. Signature Style Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan. She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements. X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More