New Delhi: Embarrassed by Anna Hazare’s sharp criticism of Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party over the conduct of some of its leaders, the party on Tuesday said his concerns were “genuine” and show his “affection” for the party.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who is on a visit to Goa where Assembly polls are due next year, said the concerns raised by Hazare were “genuine”. The party, he said, took “quick and strong” action against anyone found in the “wrong”.

Senior AAP leader Kumar Vishwas said the criticism shows Hazare’s “affection” for the party. “That is why he felt hurt. Anna ji is very revered for us. But (even if) any common citizen had given such a reaction then it is worth taking a note of,” he said.

Last week, Kejriwal, who is also the party chief, had sacked Sandeep Kumar both as a minister and a party member, over an alleged sex scandal. Hazare — a rights activist who led an anti-corruption movement that later became a launch pad for AAP  said he was “very saddened” to see that some colleagues of Mr Kejriwal have gone to jail, while some others were “indulging in fraud”.

Former AAP member and Swaraj Abhiyan’s Yogendra Yadav, however, alleged that Kejriwal never took Anna seriously.

Hitting out at AAP, Yadav said while Hazare had censured the party in the past, his comments have a tone of “finality” this time.

“I didn’t see Arvind (Kejriwal) taking Anna seriously at all even when we were in the party,” he said. “While Anna has criticised AAP in the past, the indictment seems more severe because it is more comprehensive and there is a tone of finality. You don’t use expressions like ‘my dream is shattered’ every day.”