Dissident AAP MLA Pankaj Pushkar today accused Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of "misusing the government machinery" by not inviting him to the inauguration of an upgraded dispensary in his constituency.
Swaraj Abhiyan, floated by expelled AAP leaders Prashant Bhishan and Yogendra Yadav, alleged that a group of AAP workers manhandled some locals at the venue and also tried to snatch ID card of a journalist.
Pushkar is now part of Swaraj Abhiyan.
"It is an insult to the people that an MLA from a different constituency was invited but not their own elected local public representative.
"Pushkar reached the dispensary, met the doctors and welcomed its upgradation. It came as a surprise to know that DMS had no idea whether it was a party function or government function. The medical superintendent said that he only followed what was asked of him by the health department.
"Swaraj Abhiyan expresses strong objection to the flouting of democratic norms, breach of constitutional mandate and disrespect to the public representative at Timarpur. It is sad and unfortunate that the government of Delhi turned a public event into a party function," the outfit said in a statement.
Apart from Pushkar, two AAP MPs -- Harinder Singh Khalsa and Dharamvir Gandhi -- support the organisation.
It said the incident was not a one-off case but "symptomatic of the political culture in the Aam Aadmi Party regime."
"Swaraj Abhiyan condemns the sheer brazenness of Delhi government of using public money for furthering its own petty political agenda at the cost of democratic ethics," the statement added.
Without taking any name, Yadav said the Abhiyan's process
of people electing prospective candidates, has rattled those in power.
"We had put some posters. They were torn down. Then our volunteers were detained at Keshavpuram police station. This process of people electing candidates have rattled the ones in power," he said.
Former AAP leader Anand Kumar said Kamini Jaiswal, a noted lawyer, and Pawan Gupta will be the first Lokpal of Swaraj Abhiyan.
Abhiyan secretary Ajit Jha said the outfit has its presence with a minimum of 100 members in 117 districts in the country and it is expected to reach 250 soon.
"We are aiming at having financial transparency, internal democracy and participatory leadership in the organisation," Jha said.
The office space has been given by Veena Anand, former AAP MLA from Patel Nagar, who was denied party ticket in 2015 Assembly polls and later contested as an Independent.
Former AAP leaders Yadav, Bhushan, Anand Kumar and Ajit Tyagi, formed the Swaraj Abhiyan days before their expulsion from the party after they crossed swords with its chief Arvind Kejriwal.
Over the past one year, Abhiyan has undertaken Samvedna Yatra in drought-hit areas in the country, filed a petition in the Supreme Court for drought relief and formation of anti-corruption and citizen's whistle blower forum.
