INDIA
The party that openly advocated sting operations to catch corruption in the act, has been thoroughly stung by one of its own.
The party that openly advocated sting operations to catch corruption in the act, has been thoroughly stung by one of its own. An audio recording from 2014, of a phone conversation between former Aam Aadmi Party MLA Rajesh Garg and party chief Arvind Kejriwal, came into the open on Wednesday. In the recorded conversation that took place before the dissolution of the Delhi Assembly, Kejriwal is asking Garg to get six Congress MLAs to support the AAP in forming a government in Delhi.
Evidence of AAP seeking Congress support mounted as AAP leaders Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav also released their statement that not only refutes the party's statement (on Tuesday) against them, but also shows how Kejriwal wanted to reach out to the Congress, against the wishes of many volunteers and leaders. Bhushan had levied this charge in his letter to the National Executive on February 26.
The recording was made by Garg, the former MLA from Rohini, who says the conversation happened in July 2014. Garg says, "Arvind Kejriwal called me to get the support of Congress MLAs. However, no names were taken." According to Garg, he records all his calls as a matter of routine.
Garg says that though he distanced himself from the party after that conversation, he sent the recording to party leader Kumar Vishwas during the 2015 Delhi elections as he was troubled by corrupt candidates being parachuted into constituencies and volunteers being ill-treated. He says that he told Vishwas that much was wrong within the party. When Vishwas asked for proof, Garg says he mailed the recording to him, and to no one else. Garg claims not to know how the recording reached the press.
The recording has Kejriwal saying "We are ready, but these people are not agreeing at all. But they are in touch with Manish (Sisodia)."
Garg replies that eight MLAs are ready but Ajay Maken and Randeep Surjewala (Congress spokesperson) are not. Garg suggests that they use the mohalla sabhas to say that people want them to form the government with someone's support.
But Kejriwal asks him not to make this public unless the Congress says yes, else AAP will look "desperate".
Both are worried about their efforts being too late, in case the assembly gets dissolved soon. But Kejriwal says that if they publicly say that Congress is supporting them, and the support doesn't come through, then they will be reduced to nothing.
Former Congress MLA Mateen Ahmed Khan says that he was approached by Garg sometime in July last year. Another former Congress MLA Hari Shankar Gupta does not confirm if he was asked but says that AAP was desperately looking for Congress support. Asif Mohammad Khan, former Congress MLA says that late in 2014 he had many meetings with Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh who asked him to get their word to the Congress high command. However, Khan says that Rahul and Sonia were dead set against any tie up with AAP.
The immediate fallout of the news was the resignation of Anjali Damania, who until Wednesday morning was a senior party leader, Maharashtra convenor, strong supporter and close confidant of Kejriwal. She tweeted that she quit because she had supported the party for principles and not "horse-trading". Only recently, she had spoken out against Bhushan, accusing him of wanting the party to lose the Delhi elections.
The party kicked into immediate damage-control mode, with senior leader Ashish Khetan downplaying any charges of horse-trading, calling it "political realignment" instead. However, clever wordplay is unlikely to get the party out of this fresh mess.
Bhushan and Yadav's letter, too, is a scathing indictment of internal party practices. They call out Kejriwal on repressing and vetoing volunteers' wishes, of not listening to valid criticism, and of going against official party decisions. They give certain examples; Yadav being shut down by the party for criticising communal posters being put up in Okhla by an AAP worker, how AVAM's Karan Singh's case was handled in an undemocratic manner, of how the biodatas of the corrupt candidates in AAP were never shared with the PAC, despite Bhushan's multiple requests.
The letter says that Yadav never stated any wish to replace Kejriwal as National Convenor, and that they distance themselves from Shanti Bhushan's statements to the media. The letter ends with their promise to stay in the party and work to get it back on track.
Days after imposing fine on Anil Ambani, Sebi now issues Rs 130 crore demand notices to...
Thailand announces indefinite visa-free entry for Indian travellers
Meet daughter of billionaire, who studied in UK, now works in Rs 32770 crore Indian company as...
MUDA case: Lokayukta police summon Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah for questioning on...
This city is 4000 years old, belongs to bronze age where 500 people lived, it is located in...
Kamala Harris has been the President of US before? Here's when and how
Meet son-in-law of billionaire whose net worth is Rs 38690 crore, he co-founded...
What is elimination inflammation diet that helped Vidya Balan lose weight?
Shah Rukh Khan feels breathless after quitting smoking: Know withdrawal symptoms, how to manage them
Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal takes action on vendor for mislabelling mushrooms at Hyperpure warehouse
Mukesh Ambani's Reliance shares fell by 3%, loses Rs 50205 crore in one day due to...
IAF's MiG-29 crashes near Agra in Uttar Pradesh, pilot ejects safely, court of inquiry ordered
Driving Growth and Monetization at Zendesk: A Conversation with Darshit Thakkar
Can air pollution make you fat? Know how high AQI impact your health
Locanto Addresses Challenges and Innovations in Indian Education System
Nita Ambani stuns in floral co-ord set while Anant, Mukesh Ambani go casual in Dubai
Indian Railway to launch this 'SUPER APP', passengers can now..., know details here
Who is Rashmi Shukla, IPS officer whom EC removed as Maharashtra DGP?
This village in India allows men to have two wives, living under one roof due to…
AUS vs PAK, 1st ODI: Australia beat Pakistan by 2 wickets to take 1-0 lead in series
Singham Again’s sole aim is to entertain, it’s not Hindutva propaganda
Delhi pollution: 'Why firecracker ban was not implemented during Diwali,' SC asks police, govt
IPL 2025 mega auction likely to be held in Riyadh on these dates
Big update on Reliance Jio IPO as Mukesh Ambani eyes THIS date
EC reschedules UP, Punjab, Kerala bypolls from Nov 13 to...
Coldplay's Chris Martin falls through stage trap door while performing live in Australia
Meet man, who is rising star in Tata Group after Ratan Tata's death, now tasked with...
'Nice handwriting': Internet reacts to Elon Musk's physics homework from his college days
AIIMS INI CET 2025 admit card releasing today at aiimsexams.ac.in; when and how to download
Sustainability Meets Innovation via uPVC: Industry expert shares experience
Promoting innovation in engineering education
AP TET 2024 exam result declared at aptet.apcfss.in; steps to check
AI-Powered Development: Insights from industry leaders on transforming software engineering
Another BIG move by BSNL, now set to provide tough competition to Jio, Airtel, Vi by...
Uttarakhand Bus Accident: 36 dead after bus falls into gorge in Almora; rescue operations underway
Bigg Boss 18: Vivian D'Sena accuses Chahat Pandey of pooping on floor, latter loses her cool
One of India's best wicketkeepers set to retire after this season, won't play IPL too, he is...
Research shows awe-inspiring details about Black Holes, they can...
US Presidential Election 2024: Harris vs Trump goes down to the wire, say polls
AP TET 2024 exam result to be declared today on aptet.apcfss.in, when and how to check
Shampoo, tea, biscuits, oil to get costlier soon? FMCG firms caution price hike as...
Swiggy fined Rs 35000 for duping Hyderabad customer by doing THIS
Delhi pollution: Air quality in Delhi-NCR further deteriorates, AQI hits 'severe' level
Indian mission condemns attack on Hindu devotees at Canada temple by ‘anti-India’ elements
'Upar se leke neeche tak...': Bigg Boss 18's Kashish Kapoor, Eisha Singh get into ugly spat
Man grows 500 kg pumpkin, uses it as boat to sail 70 km, SEE PIC
Devotees at Banke Bihari Temple drink AC water believing it to be 'Charan Amrit'; WATCH viral video
Bank Holidays in November: Banks to remain closed for four days in THESE states, full list here
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3: Kartik Aaryan's mother struggles to get tickets, hilarious video goes viral
Mumbai Police arrest Maharashtra woman for hoax death threat to UP CM Yogi Adityanath
Kriti Sanon avoids posing with rumoured boyfriend Kabir Bahia at Mumbai airport, video goes viral
This is world's most expensive house, twice price of Mukesh Ambani's Antilia, it is located in...
SC to hear today Delhi govt's plea against vesting LG with power to appoint...
Viral video: Girl’s sizzling dance to ‘Taareefan’ song earns praise from netizens, watch
Watch: Elderly couple's heartwarming dance at Mohit Chauhan's Patna concert goes viral
This is India’s most expensive wedding card, made from real gold and silver, it costs Rs…
Viral video: Men’s mid-air stunt, twerk on Mumbai local train leaves netizens in splits, watch