Sacked AAP minister blames internal politics for his dismissal

A day after Delhi chief minister fired his cabinet colleague Asim Ahmed Khan over graft charges, the former food and environment minister came out in his defence saying that he has become a victim of Aam Aadmi Party's internal politics and has been made a 'scapegoat' in the process.

"I'm a person with a clean image. Don't know why am I being made scapegoat. I've become a victim of AAP's internal politics," Khan told media persons on Saturday evening.

Criticising Kejriwal's move to sack him publicly without his knowledge and refuting corruption charges, Khan said it was improper for the CM to sack him in this manner without even carrying out a thorough investigation into the matter.

A furious Khan also alleged that the party intentionally did not disclose the identity of the alleged 'builder' and has not handed over the audio clip to him.

"The second voice was of AAP minority wing vice president Shakeel Malik. Why is his name being hid? Why was he addressed as a middleman?" Khan asked, adding that he has been receiving threat calls from his party ever since he had said he will make further revelations against the party. "I will name everyone, even if it's a councillor or a chief minister," Khan said.

"I will make more revelations in the next two days," he said undeterred, as his supporters and family present at the venue shouted anti-Kejriwal slogans in the background.

Khan also questioned the credentials of Imran Khan who replaced him as the new minister, saying, "There are 14 pending cases against him. I want to ask why a man with clean credentials has been replaced by a person with criminal record." He, however, said he is yet to decide if he will resign from the party.

On Friday, Kejriwal has announced at an impromptu press meet his decision to sack Khan and handover the case to CBI after examining a few audio clips of a conversation between Khan and another anonymous person, which was submitted to him by a whistleblower.

Announcing the decision, Kejriwal had reiterated that his government wouldn't tolerate corruption from anyone, be it a minister, MLA, or officers.

Kejriwal also took a customary dig at the BJP, challenging the party to sack chief ministers Vasundhara Raje and Shivraj Chouhan on graft charges.

While Kejriwal took the opportunity to reiterate his party's stand, political observers said the move was carefully crafted to boost AAP's image, which of late, have suffered because of errant ministers such as Somnath Bharti accused in the infamous Khidki raid case and a domestic violence complaint filed by his wife and Jitendra Tomar who faked his educational qualifications.

Khan was the latest in his hitlist after his name featured in the Turkman road rage case and his ineffieciency in handling the recent onion scam allegations. AAP sources said Khan's sacking was imminent.

Meanwhile, Kejriwal has extended an invitation to all AAP legislators and their family members, in order to boost their morale and remind them of AAP's anti-corruption agenda.

"Meeting all MLAs, with families, tomorrow evening. To remind them why we came in politics. To warn them that Asim Khan episode should not happen again," Kejriwal tweeted.