Azad's suspension bid to 'shield' Jaitley: AAP

The Aam Aadmi Party on Thursday said the suspension of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kirti Azad is another bid by the ruling dispensation at the centre to protect Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for his role in the alleged corruptions in the Delhi and District Cricket Administration (DDCA).

"This is another bid by the BJP to save Arun Jaitley ji. If raising voice against corruption is anti party activity, then by that order corruption is acceptable in BJP?," AAP leader Dilip Pandey told ANI.

The BJP on Wednesday suspended its Darbhanga MP Kirti Azad, who has been making public statements that there was corruption in the DDCA when Arun Jaitley was heading it.

The party issued a terse letter in the evening stating, "For anti-party activities, Shri Kirti Azad, MP, Darbhanga, is with immediate effect suspended from the party."

Jaitley has filed criminal defamation case and also filed civil defamation suit in Delhi High Court of Rs 10 crores against Kejriwal and other AAP leaders, amid a raging row over irregularities in the DDCA and allegations of corruptions against him by the Delhi Government.

The Patiala House court has set January 5, 2016 at 2 p.m. as the next date of hearing for the criminal defamation case filed by Jaitley.

Noted criminal lawyer Ram Jethmalani will represent Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the defamation lawsuits filed by the Finance Minister.