AAP leaders to sue its own MLAs for defamatory remarks

Image
Press Trust of India New Delhi
Last Updated : Sep 05 2016 | 9:22 PM IST
The AAP today rubbished the allegations of "exploitation of women" by a few party men in return for tickets levelled by its own MLA Devinder Sehrawat and said the leaders against whom the lawmaker has made the accusations will sue him over his remarks.
Launching a scathing attack on Sehrawat, party's Punjab in-charge Sanjay Singh alleged that the BJP and Akali Dal are behind the conspiracy as they are "scared" since the AAP is "winning" over 100 seats in the state polls scheduled next year.
Terming Sehrawat as a "discontent element" within the party, Singh said his closeness with rebel AAP leaders Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav are well known.
"The allegations levelled by Sehrawat are baseless. They are also an insult to people and women of Punjab. I challenge him to prove his charges and I will quit public and political life. I will file a defamation suit against Sehrawat and he has to prove his charges before the court," Singh said at a press conference.
The party also hinted of a possible action against the Bijwasan MLA after the return of AAP's national convenor Arvind Kejriwal from Vatican City where he has gone to attend the cannonisation of Mother Teresa.
In his letter to Kejriwal yesterday, Sehrawat had also hit out at AAP's Delhi unit convener Dilip Pandey, questioning his conduct, and said there were "disturbing" reports from Punjab as he attacked Singh, and Durgesh Pathak, party's co-incharge of the state.
A defiant Sehrawat said that he has written the letters with "full responsibility" and will "follow it up" till finality.
Sehrawat had also written a letter to social activist Anna Hazare saying he was upset with the "corruption" and "immorality" in the party, which has strayed away from its "principles".
Pandey, who also addressed the press conference, hit back at Sehrawat, saying the party leaders will sue him in individual capacity.
"So, those who speak truth in the AAP will now be termed as a solider of Swaraj Abhiyan and our companions? Then that's good," Yadav tweeted reacting to Singh's charges of Sehrwat's closeness to him and Bhushan, co-founder of Swaraj Abhiyan.
(REOPENS DES 52)
Singh said while the party had fielded Sehrawat thrice, twice in Assembly and once in Lok Sabha elections, what has the Bijwasan MLA done for the party.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Sep 05 2016 | 9:22 PM IST

Next Story