A day after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal submitted a written apology to Shiromani Akali Dal’s general secretary Bikram Majithia in a defamation case, the rift within the party has started to surface. Sukhpal Singh Khaira, AAP leader and the leader of the opposition in Punjab assembly has strongly condemned Arvind Kejriwal’s decision.
Strongly condemn Arvind Kejriwal’s apology to Bikram Majithia. Nobody was consulted before he took this decision. This shows that he has become weak & also raises questions on his talks with Akali Dal. For me welfare of #Punjab‘s people is most important: Sukhpal Singh Khaira,AAP pic.twitter.com/NwthPceNOf
— ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2018
Sukhpal Khaira spoke to News outlets and criticised Kejriwal’s decision. He also alleged that Kejriwal has not consulted with the party members before submitting the apology.
We’re appalled n stunned by the apology of @ArvindKejriwal tendered today,we don’t hesitate to admit that we haven’t been consulted on this meek surrender by a leader of his stature-khaira @ZeeNews @CNNnews18 @thetribunechd @HTPunjab @PTC_Network @JagbaniOnline @dailyajitnews
— Sukhpal Singh Khaira (@SukhpalKhaira) March 15, 2018
He also stated that the party fails to understand the timing of the apology in the defamation case and added that the state government’s special task force has found evidence to proceed against Majithia.
I fail to understand the timing of Kejrewal’ apology when STF of PB has stated to the High Court today that there’s substantial evidence to proceed against Bikram Majitha on the issue of drugs-khaira @ZeeNews @News18India @thetribunechd
— Sukhpal Singh Khaira (@SukhpalKhaira) March 15, 2018
Yesterday, Bhagwant Mann, AAP President from Punjab who was considered the CM candidate for AAP has resigned from the party after Kejriwal’s apology. Mann
Veteran AAP leader Kumar Vishwas, who was reportedly displeased after being denied a Rajya Sabha seat, has also expressed concern over the incidents. He has been criticising Kejriwal in his poetic style on social media and yesterday stated that he has been attending court summons in several of the defamation cases and appointing lawyers on his own expenses without any help from Kejriwal or the AAP.
The AAP, founded over a hundred hollowed promises and loud rhetoric, has clearly been a vehicle for fulfilling Arvind Kejriwal’s personal ambitions. From the very beginning, after coming to power with a significant majority in Delhi, Kejriwal seemed to forget all his promises and embarked on a never before seen political rampage of personal attacks, bickering and excuses. He has lost state elections one after another, even lost deposits in most of the elections, his MLAs have been found brazenly breaking the law and the public of Delhi got none of the golden pictures they were sold.
Recently, the AAP seems to have reached a downward spiral. A big chunk of its MLAs face disqualification, senior leaders have quit. The recent incident of violence on the Delhi Chief Secretary was another low for the party’s image. Two of its MLAs face criminal charges and Arvind Kejriwal’s advisor V K Jain has resigned over the issue. Kejriwal faces another major defamation case from Arun Jaitley where he has been in the soup after his own lawyers abandoned him and several of his MLAs also have major defamation suits against them. Now that senior leaders have also started expressing lack of trust in the party leadership, AAP might be in very troubled waters. Kapil Mishra, the former water minister was suspended from primary membership of AAP after he brought allegations against Kejriwal in the 400 crores tanker scam.
Charges of corruption and scams, a brazen disregard of the law, and misbehaviour have been a common thing for AAP leaders and even Kejriwal himself is no exception to it. AAP’s years of ruling Delhi has been tainted with corruption and inaction. Now that the rift and discord within the party have been brought out in the open, it remains to be seen how long the party lasts before imploding on its own misplaced priorities.
