Former Delhi Minister Sandeep Kumar, who was sacked over an "objectionable" CD, today alleged that he was being targeted under a "conspiracy" as he was a dalit and demanded a probe into the issue. "This is a conspiracy against me as I belong to Valmiki Samaj. There should be a probe into this matter. I am very hurt by watching the video on television. There is no authenticity of this CD. Authenticity should be checked," he told reporters at his residence here.
Asked if he was the one featured in the CD, Kumar, who held the portfolios of Social Welfare and Women and Child Development, said that it is a matter of investigation and truth should come out. "I am the only dalit face of the party. I have been popular among dalit community, that's why a conspiracy has been hatched against me. Other political parties are after us as we do not have a political background," he added. In a sudden move, Kumar was sacked by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal last night after receiving an 'objectionable' CD in which he was purportedly shown in a compromising position with a woman.
The decision to remove the 36-year-old minister was taken at a high-level meeting attended by top AAP leaders and the announcement was made by Kejriwal himself through a tweet.
Kumar, however, insisted that he had resigned on moral grounds. "Someone is saying the video is two months old and others are saying it is three months old. There is no authentication Dalits have been exploited always. I belong to a poor family, so I know the facts are distorted. I have been framed because I am a Dalit," he said.
He also lashed out at the media. "Without knowing my side, the media is showing things. My family is with me. I am not afraid of such controversies. I am a loyal person and can sacrifice anything for my community.
"It is the history of this country that whenever we have tried to rise, we have been suppressed. It is entirely a conspiracy against me and there should be an inquiry in it," he said.
"I have resigned on basis of morality. If media is trying to twist it then it is wrong. I was a soldier of AAP earlier and now also I won't let the party be defamed," he said.
Delhi CM Kejriwal says he'd rather die than compromise
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today said sacked minister Sandeep Kumar had "betrayed" the core values on which AAP will never compromise and hit out at rival parties for their "indifference" in taking action in cases of wrongdoings and corruption. In a video message, Kejriwal asserted that he will prefer to die than stray from AAP's principles, adding the same rule will apply to himself and all other senior leaders.
"Sandeep Kumar betrayed the party, he betrayed the AAP movement and the trust people across the country have reposed on AAP. We will never ever compromise on our core values. We will prefer to die than tolerate wrongdoings," he said.
In a sudden move, Kumar, who held the Women and Child Welfare and Social Welfare portfolios, was sacked from the council of ministers yesterday by Kejriwal after he received a nine-minute-long CD in which Kumar was purportedly shown in a compromising position with a woman.
"We never cover up when we get evidence of any wrongdoing. AAP takes action as soon as we get any evidence.
That differentiates us from other political parties. It is sad that such people (Kumar) were with AAP," Kejriwal said.
Rebutting BJP's criticism, Kejriwal asked the party what action it had taken against allegations of wrongdoings against Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and former Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel.
He also attacked Congress and wondered "why the party shied away from taking action against its Punjab Chief Amarinder Singh when it was found that his family has Swiss bank accounts."
