Former Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken on Sunday launched a scathing attack on AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal, saying no sympathy or support should be given to him and his colleagues who are facing “serious corruption charges”.
Maken, a former Union minister during the UPA government, is at odds with his party’s central leadership as Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge called Kejriwal on Saturday. You the leader
This statement has come at a time when efforts are being made to unite the opposition parties and bring them on a single platform.
According to sources, in his call to Kejriwal, Kharge stressed on the need for opposition parties to unite against the BJP ahead of the 2024 general elections.
In a lengthy Twitter post that came on the day of Kejriwal’s questioning by the CBI, Maken said, “I believe that no sympathy or support should be shown to persons facing serious corruption charges like Kejriwal and his associates.” And Gheegate should be thoroughly investigated and those found guilty should be punished. It is important for all political leaders, including the Congress, to recognize that money earned by Kejriwal through corrupt means has been used against the Congress party in several states, including Punjab, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Maken said. , Uttarakhand and Delhi.
Noting that Kejriwal had founded the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 2013 with the aim of fighting corruption, following the Anna Hazare movement, Maken said the party had promised to implement the Lokpal Bill, which was rejected by opposition parties. was seen as a solution to corruption. Congress Party.
“However, Kejriwal dissolved his own government in February 2014, 40 days after coming to power, demanding a strong Lokpal Bill, which was later made public.
“Despite this, in December 2015, Kejriwal introduced a watered-down version of the Lokpal Bill, which was vastly different from the original Bill proposed in 2014,” said the former Delhi Congress chief.
He said that this shows the real character and intention of Kejriwal.
Maken said the original bill, which formed the basis for the dissolution of his 40-day government, has not yet been implemented.
“Since 2015, Kejriwal and his party have failed to push a strong Lokpal bill. Instead, they are only known for their protests, marches and counter-accusations demanding more power. Now that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Kejriwal, instead a strong Lokpal Bill could have probed the Gheegate allegations,” he argued.
Maken appealed to competent advocates and senior steering committee members to desist from representing Kejriwal or his government in the court.
“Though representing someone is within their professional purview, doing so for Kejriwal’s government and allies sends the wrong message to our cadre and misleads them,” he said. It ultimately benefits the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by dividing the votes of the Congress party,” he said.
Notably, Congress Steering Committee member and advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi has represented AAP in the past and Kejriwal has reportedly sought his legal counsel.
Apart from Kharge’s telephone call, the central leadership of the Congress has been largely silent on calling Kejriwal. Delhi Congress leaders, however, have been attacking Kejriwal over the liquor policy matter.
Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal was on Sunday questioned by the CBI in the excise policy matter, amid protests from his party, with the AAP chief accusing the agency of working at the behest of the BJP.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)