Congress criticises AAP but refuses to pull the plug

Says AAP is sitting in govt and acting like Opposition

Reacting to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Delhi Chief Minister (CM) Arvind Kejriwal's sit-in protest demanding suspension of some Delhi Police officials, the Congress on Monday said AAP was "sitting in government and acting like the Opposition." However, the party said it would not withdraw its support to the AAP government in Delhi.

A Congress insider said withdrawing support would not only make AAP a "martyr", but also help it focus on the Lok Sabha elections.

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee chief Arvinder Singh Lovely said: "CM leaving all work, sitting on dharna to suspend three officers and save his two ministers?"

The Congress demanded to know how many administrative decisions had been taken by Kejriwal and his cabinet on Monday. "If the CM sits on dharna, who will run the government?" asked All India Congress Committee spokesperson Meem Afzal.

Another Delhi Congress leader said: "Since the time the court ordered a First Information Report against (law minister) Somnath Bharti, the AAP is trying to divert the issue."

The party believes it is best to let the AAP fail on its own.

Afzal added, "Aam Aadmi Party ki ulti ginti shuru ho gayi hai (the countdown for AAP has begun.)"