BJP prods for Kejriwal’s resignation or dismissal

A day after being dropped as a minister, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Kapil Mishra on Sunday levelled stunning allegations of corruption against Chief Minister
(CM) Arvind Kejriwal and Health Minister Satyendar Jain.

AAP, however, described it a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-scripted drama to ensure that the party does not elect its nominees to the Rajya Sabha.

Mishra told reporters at Raj Ghat that he "saw" Jain handing over " ₹2 crore" to Kejriwal at his official residence. On being asked, the CM evaded answering where the money came from and said that a few things in politics could not be explained, the sacked MLA alleged.

He also alleged that Jain had told him about a "land deal" of Kejriwal's relative, worth "₹50 crore", that he had "settled,” claiming that when the matter was brought to the knowledge of the CM, he had termed it as a "lie".

"I kept quiet all this while due to complete faith in Arvind Kejriwal. The day before yesterday, I saw Jain giving ₹2 crore in cash to Kejriwal. Kejriwal said few things happen in politics. After having seen Jain hand over such a big amount to him, I had to come out. I have handed over the details to Lt Governor Anil Baijal," Mishra said.

"I am also ready to make a statement before the CBI or Anti Corruption Bureau if required," he added.

AAP leaders rubbished the allegation with the Delhi Chief Minister’s media advisor tweeting that it seemed the health minister Satyender Jain had invited Mishra to be a witness when he handed over cash to the chief minister. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia told the media that the allegation deserved to be treated with the contempt it deserved.

Another AAP leader, Ashish Khetan, described it as part of a BJP-inspired smear campaign while Kumar Vishwas tweeted that he had known Arvind Kejriwal for 12 years and it was inconceivable to him that Kejriwal could be corrupt. Even friend-turned-foe Yogendra Yadav tweeted that the charge of bribery required better evidence.

AAP insiders claimed this was a desperate move by the BJP to engineer the dismissal of the AAP Government after its agencies like the CBI and Home Ministry failed to unearth any wrongdoing. The aim, they felt, was to ensure that AAP is unable to elect from the Delhi assembly its nominees to the Rajya Sabha.

Mishra's surprise sacking came days after he sided with senior party leader Kumar Vishwas, who has been at loggerheads with the party leadership. Earlier, as Mishra went to meet the LG at Raj Niwas, the top leadership of AAP remained huddled at Kejriwal's residence. Vishwas, who was also present, left a little before Mishra made the allegations to reporters at Raj Ghat.

Soon after the move, Mishra had claimed he would "expose" the involvement of certain AAP leaders in an alleged scam on Sunday.

BJP demands resignation of Kejriwal on moral grounds

Manoj Tiwari, the Delhi unit chief of the BJP, said Kejriwal should step down if he had any morality left in him, within hours of Mishra's stunning charges of corruption against Kejriwal and Health Minister Satyendar Jain.

Tiwari said he would meet the LG later in the day and urge for his intervention in the matter.

"In case Kejriwal doesn't resign, the Lt Governor should examine the possibility of recommending dismissal of the AAP-led Delhi government to the President," Tiwari said in a press conference.

Although Mishra made up his mind to become a witness of "AAP government's corruption" a little late, he still must be congratulated for his decision, Tiwari said.

With PTI inputs