Monday, December 22, 2025
ADVT 
India

After Expulsion, Yadav, Bhushan Describe Aam Aadmi Party As Khap

Darpan News Desk IANS, 21 Apr, 2015 12:37 PM
    After being expelled from their Aam Aadmi Party on Monday night for anti-party activities, Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav lambasted the party, describing it as a Khap Panchayat (kangaroo court).
     
    Although the two leaders termed their expulsion from the party as illegal, they said they would not contest it in the court.
     
    The AAP late Monday night removed Bhushan, Yadav, Ajit Jha and Anand Kumar for anti-party activities. 
     
    A fortnight after its historic victory in the Delhi polls, the party plunged into a crisis, with its founding members Bhushan and Yadav accusing its chief Arvind Kejriwal of having developed "dictatorial tendencies".
     
    Speaking at a press conference here on Tuesday, Bhushan, accompanied by Yadav, said: "It is no longer AAP. It is Khap." 
     
    "Ideally we can approach the court against all that they did. The reconstitution of the national disciplinary committee, the removal of Admiral Ramdas as the party Lokpal - everything was illegal. The question is why should we spend our energy in court?" he added. 
     
    The two leaders said though they were sad over their expulsion, they felt relieved as the "drama" is now over.
     
    Without mincing words, Bhushan went on to describe Kejriwal as a "dictator" who along with his "coterie" takes decision in the party.
     
    Reacting to Bhushan's and Yadav's allegations, AAP leader Ashutosh later said the dissident leaders had disrespected AAP's Political Affair Committee -- its key decision making body.
     
    "The leaders should have some shame as they have disrespected the Political Affairs Committee (PAC), National Executive and National Council they were a part of. They should not talk about democracy now," he said.
     
    Detailing about the procedure of expulsion, Dinesh Waghela, a member of AAP's National Disciplinary Committee, said the committee had gone through the replies of the rebel leaders properly.
     
    "We found that Bhushan, Yadav, Anand Kumar and Ajit Jha had indulged in anti-party activities. We unanimously decided to expel all the four rebel leaders from the party," he said.
     
    "An e-mail in this connection was sent to all the four expelled leaders on Monday night," he said, adding: "We will resend the copy of expulsion letter to them if they have not received it earlier."
     
    The party also termed the allegations levelled against its leaders Pankaj Gupta and Ashish Khetan by Bhushan as "baseless", saying the party would not order any inquiry against them.
     
    Bhushan accused AAP's general secretary Pankaj Gupta of accepting Rs.2 crore donation from shell companies and Khetan of writing a planted story in a magazine defending a telecom company, allegedly involved in the 2G spectrum scam.
     
    Meanwhile, Khetan, in response to Bhushan's allegation against him, said the charges are baseless, and added that if the allegations were proved, he would quit public life.
     
    "If Shanti Bhushan or Prashant Bhushan provide any proof regarding their allegations against me, I will quit the public life. If they fail in giving any proof, they should also quit the public life. The charges made against me bear no truth," Khetan told reporters.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    US Closely Watching Modi's Moves

    US Closely Watching Modi's Moves
    Every diplomatic move of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including his latest interaction with Chinese President Xi Jinping, is being closely watched by the US as it prepares to welcome Modi for a major summit with President Barack Obama next week - to glean as to how to interact with India's new prime minister who is known to spring surprises.

    US Closely Watching Modi's Moves

    Address to UNGA, dinner with Obama, 35 engagements for Modi in US

    Address to UNGA, dinner with Obama, 35 engagements for Modi in US
    Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a packed schedule of 35 engagements, including an address to the UN General Assembly and a much-anticipated summit meeting with US President Barack Obama, during his Sep 26-30 visit to the US.

    Address to UNGA, dinner with Obama, 35 engagements for Modi in US

    Ladakh intrusion: China seeks flag meet, Modi to be briefed

    Ladakh intrusion: China seeks flag meet, Modi to be briefed
    Even as Chinese soldiers continue to lodge on Indian territory in Jammu and Kashmir's Ladakh region, China has sought a flag meet, defence ministry officials said Tuesday.

    Ladakh intrusion: China seeks flag meet, Modi to be briefed

    Modi asks Indians to join him in operation clean-up

    Modi asks Indians to join him in operation clean-up
    Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday appealed to the 1.25-billion Indians to join him in cleaning up the filth that has brought a bad name to the country.

    Modi asks Indians to join him in operation clean-up

    People Watch In Shock As White Tiger Mauls, Kills Youth In Delhi Zoo

    People Watch In Shock As White Tiger Mauls, Kills Youth In Delhi Zoo
    In a hair-raising incident, witnessed by scores and captured live on many cameras, a 200-kg white tiger mauled and killed a youth after he fell into the animal's moat in the Delhi Zoo, eyewitnesses and officials said Tuesday.

    People Watch In Shock As White Tiger Mauls, Kills Youth In Delhi Zoo

    Want to win people's confidence by action: Narendra Modi

    Want to win people's confidence by action: Narendra Modi
    Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said he would like to win the confidence of people by his action rather than his speeches.

    Want to win people's confidence by action: Narendra Modi