AAP cites reasons for Yadav, Bhushan PAC expulsion

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday said that three of its senior leaders-Shanti Bhushan, Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav-were working to ensure the party's defeat in the recently held assembly elections in Delhi, and therefore, this was justification enough to expel them from the Political Affairs Committee (PAC).

In a statement issued here, the AAP said, "During Delhi elections, three senior AAP leaders were working towards our defeat-Yogendra Yadav, Shanti Bhushan and Prashant Bhushan. Prashant Bhushan used to call up AAP leaders of other states and tried to convince them to not campaign in Delhi."

The statement further said, "Prashant Bhushan told AAP leaders: 'I won't campaign, you shouldn't either...Arvind needs to be taught a lesson.'"

"Prashant Bhushan tried to stop people from donating money to the AAP, and threatened to hold a press conference against the party," it added.

The party further accused Yogendra Yadav of planting stories against Kejriwal in the media.

"Yogendra Yadav was planting stories against Kejriwal and the AAP in national dailies, and was speaking against the party to journalists off the record. Prashant Bhushan and Shanti Bhushan supported the claims made by the AVAM against the AAP," the AAP statement said.

The decision to remove Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav from the PAC was taken on March 4 by the AAP's national executive.