New Delhi:
The sacking of Delhi's Social Welfare Minister Sandeep Kumar over an 'objectionable' CD on Wednesday triggered sharp reactions from BJP and Congress, with the saffron party demanding resignation of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal while the latter asked why such members were not expelled.
1. BJP leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad
The BJP alleged the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is troubled by internal contradictions, corruption and devaluation of its polity although it boasted of probity and transparency.
"Everyday there is some drama in AAP. The party, which boasts of probity and transparency, is troubled by internal contradiction, corruption and devaluation of its polity... AAP attacks the Prime Minister everyday. They should answer to these charges," Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Wednesday.
He also urged Delhiites to gauge what they have got after giving AAP a historic mandate.
Also Read: Sex scandal hits AAP govt: Delhi CM Kejriwal removes cabinet minister Sandeep Kumar over 'objectionable' CD
2. BJP leader Vijender Gupta
Reacting to the development, Delhi BJP said Kejriwal must resign accepting responsibility for picking up a "morally corrupt" MLA in the Cabinet.
"He must be rewarded for handing over Delhi's governance to people with corrupt values," city BJP leader Vijender Gupta said in a sarcastic tone, adding "This has never happened in any government."
3. Congress leader Ajay Maken
Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president Ajay Maken too attacked the AAP, saying three of the six ministers who were initially inducted were caught for alleged "fake degree, corruption, moral turpitude".
"But who chose them? Why aren't they expelled from Party?," he asked in a tweet.
Former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit said, "It is the privilege of the CM to keep the ministers or sack them for whatever reasons, he thinks or believes. I don't know because Kejriwal has a style of diverting attention from other problems by taking some actions."
"Privilege of CM but neither I support it nor condemn it. He is trying to divert attention, and comes out with something sensational," she said.
Also Read: Who is Sandeep Kumar? A brief profile of sacked AAP minister
4. Congress leader Mukesh Sharma
Another Congress leader Mukesh Sharma also hit out at AAP and sought the resignation of Kejriwal.
"Prior to this other AAP ministers have also been removed, and now this scandal only shows, that it's the story of Ali Baba and forty thieves, as there are several others in AAP government, against whom cases are due," he alleged.
"This government is corrupt and Arvind Kejriwal should immediately resign from his post on moral grounds," he said.
5. Former AAP leader Yogendra Yadav
Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav said, "This is not moral rectitude but a damage control exercise."
He alleged that the AAP only sacks people when the information becomes undeniable. He said that in case of AAP leader Asif Ahmed Khan, the information was received twenty days ago, but he was sacked only when his case became public.
On Sandeep's case, he said, he was "shocked" as he was the WCD minister. Yadav said he is ashamed that he was associated with "this gang" at one point of time.
"Not surprised, because the way in which candidates and ministers were chosen, every ethical norm was put in dustbin, and this was expected to happen sooner or later," he alleged.
On Wednesday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal sacked Sandeep Kumar as Social Welfare Minister in AAP government after receiving an "objectionable" CD in which he was purportedly shown in a compromising position with a woman.
Kumar, who represents Sultanpur Majra constituency, is the second AAP minister to be sacked after Asim Ahmed Khan who was Minister for Food and Supplies.
6. Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday said the “entire massive mandate of Delhi is being wasted” by the Arvind Kejriwal-led ruling party.
“They claimed arrogantly to become the custodians of propriety of Indian politics. They were giving certificate of honesty to all. But what is happening in their backyards,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a conference here.
While one former Delhi minister (Jitendra Tomar) was “caught with a forged certificate,” the convenor of AAP’s Punjab unit was “sacked because of corruption,” Prasad said in an apparent reference to the dismissal of Sucha Singh Chhotepur, while now there were such allegations.
“With the alarming regularity with which corruption and impropriety have become the buzzword, Mr Kejriwal have you disowned completely the legacy of Anna Hazare?” the senior BJP leader said.
“I am sorry to say the entire massive mandate of Delhi is being wasted by the Aam Aadmi Party,” he said. Prasad said AAP kept on “attacking the Prime Minister without any basis”.
(with PTI Inputs)
