The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleged on Wednesday that the resignation of Delhi minister Raaj Kumar Anand validated its stance that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest was intended to dismantle the party.
Speaking at a press briefing, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of leveraging the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to “destabilize our ministers and MLAs.”
“It is a trial by fire for AAP ministers and MLAs,” Singh said.
Anand, who held several portfolios including Social Welfare, tendered his resignation from the Delhi cabinet and parted ways with the AAP, citing inadequate representation of Dalits within the party.
Singh maintained that while Anand’s resignation might dishearten some party members, the Aam Aadmi Party would largely withstand attempts to fracture the organization.
Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj suggested that Anand might have been coerced into leaving AAP.
“We have repeatedly asserted that the motive behind Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest was to destabilize the party and the governments in Delhi and Punjab. Some of our colleagues may believe that we have ill feelings towards Raaj Kumar (Anand) and may label him as dishonest and a cheater. We will refrain from making such assertions… Not everyone possesses the courage of Sanjay Singh. I believe he was intimidated,” Bharadwaj said.
Singh pointed out that previously, the BJP had labelled Anand as corrupt “when the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted a raid against him, but now the party will embrace him with open arms.”
In announcing his resignation, Anand said, “This party (AAP) does not value Dalit MLAs, councillors, and ministers. Under such circumstances, all Dalits feel betrayed. While we live in an inclusive society, it is not unjust to demand equitable representation. Given these circumstances, it is difficult for me to continue with the party.”
He also took a dig at Kejriwal, who is currently in Tihar jail after being remanded in judicial custody in a money laundering case linked to an excise policy and has not received any relief from the Delhi High Court.
“Until yesterday, we believed we were being framed, but after the High Court’s verdict, it appears there might be some fault on our part,” Anand remarked.
“Arvind Kejriwal had proclaimed from Jantar Mantar that once politics changes, the country will change. Politics hasn’t changed, but the politician has,” added Anand, who represents the Patel Nagar constituency in the Delhi Legislative Assembly.