Kejriwal-led AAP has become a 'Khap Panchayat': Prashant Bhushan

Lawyer and expelled Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Prashant Bhushan on Tuesday said the Arvind Kejriwal-led party has become a 'Khap Panchayat' and squarely described the Delhi Chief Minister as a dictator.

"AAP has become a Khap Panchayat, there is a Tanashah (Dictator), and everybody follows him," Bhushan said.

Bhushan also lashed out at Pankaj Gupta and Ashish Khetan for acting like judges.

"It is against natural justice for the complainants (Pankaj Gupta, Ashish Khetan) to become the judges, especially as there are serious charges against both of them," he said.

"In our reply we had mentioned that whatever we had done we did to save the party, to save its spirit. Finally, after our expulsion, all this Aam Aadmi Party drama has ended," he added.

The Aam Aadmi Party national disciplinary committee on Monday expelled Prashant Bhushan, Yogendra Yadav, Anand Kumar and Ajit Jha for 'gross indiscipline' and 'anti-party activities'.

An AAP press release stated that the four have violated the code of conduct detailed in the party's constitution.

"The committee received the responses of Yadav, Bhushan and Kumar while Jha failed to furnish his response within the prescribed time. The Committee carefully considered responses furnished by Yogendra Yadav, Prashant Bhushan and Anand Kumar and found them unsatisfactory. The committee reached the unanimous conclusion that Yogendra Yadav, Prashant Bhushan and Anand Kumar had indulged in gross indiscipline and anti-party activities. They have violated the code of conduct detailed in article VI a (a) of the party's constitution," the release said.

"The committee is of the view that Ajit Jha failed to furnish his response in stipulated time despite sufficient time to his disposal. After examining the evidence put before it, the committee is of unanimous view that Ajit Jha is also guilty of gross indiscipline and indulging into anti-party activities. The Committee, therefore, has decided to expel all the four members from the party," it added.