AAP demands NDMC Mayor to step down; Gupta says CM should

AAP today demanded sacking of NDMC Mayor Ravinder Gupta in an alleged corruption case and urged for a "fair" probe in the matter, with the Mayor refuting the party's allegations as "baseless" saying that Kejriwal should 'step down' first if allegations were the only basis of resignation.
AAP's Delhi unit convenor Dilip Pandey had today claimed that the North Delhi Municipal Corporation Mayor Ravinder Gupta is accused of "demanding bribe" from a person who was constructing a building in Karol Bagh area, and wants the matter to be investigated in a "free and fair" manner by an independent agency.
"AAP believes that charges of this sort on a mayor is a very serious matter," Pandey said at a press conference.

However, Gupta termed Aam Aadmi Party's charges on him as "baseless" and said that the party has shown its "true character" by raising the issue.
"The allegations against me were levelled by a man against whom cases of cheating and fraud were filed by the CBI and Delhi Police. Attacking me on the basis of allegations of such a person shows the true character of AAP," he said.
The Mayor further strengthened his attack, saying "AAP's demand of my resignation is meaningless. If allegations were the only basis of resignation then Kejriwal should resign first as there are number of allegations against his government and ministers."

"I have no greed of Mayor's post and I can resign just on the basis of allegations against me, but Kejriwal must resign first," he said.

Gupta was elected as the mayor in April this year.
Earlier in the day, AAP leader Pandey said that following a complaint by Mukesh Gupta, which was raised by a councillor with the Standing Committee, the matter was referred to the Municipal Commissioner, but the AAP is not convinced with it.
"We want the matter to be investigated in a free and fair manner by an independent agency. MCD is ruled by the BJP in the last 13 years and there are many such cases of corruption, but we don't get to see any concrete action," Pandey added.