Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday apologised to former Punjab Minister Bikram Singh Majithia for alleging the latter's involvement in drug trade in the state, following which the SAD leader said he will withdraw his defamation suit.
The Chief Minister withdrew his allegations and an application regarding the same was filed in a trial court in Amritsar, where a defamation case filed by Majithia against Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal on May 20, 2016, is being heard.
"This proves that they were raking up the issue to tarnish my image and harm me and gain politically," the former Punjab Minister, who is the brother-in-law of Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Badal, told reporters here.
"I will withdraw the case, which I had filed for what is right and for my own and my family's honour."
CM @ArvindKejriwal has tendered an apology to me in the court,for all the baseless&false allegations he & his party levelled against me in drug https://t.co/Fl679yeKHW mother suffered the most due to all this&this apology is vindication of her faith in Waheguru’s power of justice pic.twitter.com/YXs3f710eu
— Bikram Majithia (@bsmajithia) March 15, 2018
Majithia said another Aam Aadmi Party leader Ashish Khetan too had submitted his offer of regret.
In the letter, Kejriwal said: "In the recent past, I made certain statements and allegations against you regarding your alleged involvement in the drug trade. These statements became a political issue.
"Now, I've learnt that the allegations are unfounded. Hence, there should be no politics on such issues.
"Because of my allegations made against you at various political rallies, public meetings, TV programmes, print, electronic and social media, you filed a defamation case against us in the Amritsar court.
"I, hereby, withdraw all my statements and allegations made against you and apologise for the same," the letter read.
I have seen the pain of parents who lost thier Young ones due to drugs & dey blame Bikram Majithia for it. Hereby I still believe that Bikram Majithia was involved in drugs untill he is given a clean chit after thorough independent enquiry by CBI. pic.twitter.com/HDPDa9NHHd
— Harjot Singh Bains (@harjotbains) March 15, 2018
A statement quoting Majithia said: "It's human nature. Mr Kejriwal has displayed great courage to admit his mistake and move on. I thank him for this gesture. However, I want all politicians who seek votes on the basis of lies to realise what they are doing. This is not good for our society."
Meanwhile, questioning the Delhi CM's apology to Majithia, AAP Punjab leader Sukhpal Khaira said, "We're appalled and stunned by the apology of Arvind Kejriwal tendered today, we don't hesitate to admit that we haven't been consulted on this meek surrender by a leader of his stature."
"I fail to understand the timing of Kejriwal's apology when STF of Punjab has stated to the High Court today that there's substantial evidence to proceed against Bikram Majitha on the issue of drugs."
"We'll meet the media at Chandigarh tomorrow, promise to continue our tirade on the burning issue of drugs destroying the youth of Punjab," Khaira said in a series of tweets.
We’re appalled n stunned by the apology of @ArvindKejriwal tendered today,we don’t hesitate to admit that we haven’t been consulted on this meek surrender by a leader of his stature-khaira @ZeeNews @CNNnews18 @thetribunechd @HTPunjab @PTC_Network @JagbaniOnline @dailyajitnews
— Sukhpal Singh Khaira (@SukhpalKhaira) March 15, 2018
I fail to understand the timing of Kejrewal’ apology when STF of PB has stated to the High Court today that there’s substantial evidence to proceed against Bikram Majitha on the issue of drugs-khaira @ZeeNews @News18India @thetribunechd
— Sukhpal Singh Khaira (@SukhpalKhaira) March 15, 2018
In continuation of my tweet on Kejrewal apology we’ll meet the media at Chandigarh tomorrow,promise to continue our tirade on the burning issue of drugs destroying the youth of PB-khaira @ZeePunjab @News18Punjab @PTC_Network @thetribunechd @htTweets @JagbaniOnline @dailyajitnews
— Sukhpal Singh Khaira (@SukhpalKhaira) March 15, 2018
"Arvind Kejriwal's apology to Bikram majithia in the defamation case on drugs is a let down to the people, especially the youth of punjab. We in punjab have not been taken into the loop. Our fight for Punjab continues," AAP MLA Kanwar Sandhu said
Arvind kejriwal' apology to Bikram majithia in the defamation case on drugs is a let down to the people, especially the youth of punjab. We in punjab have not been taken into the loop. Our fight for punjab continues.#punjabdrugs
— Kanwar Sandhu (@SandhuKanwar) March 15, 2018
Shocked & disappointed 2 know abt the apology tendered by Arvind Kejriwal 2 Majithia.I still believe drugs wud not have taken so much young lives had the previous Govt not patronised drug mafia.Our fight against drugs continues@ZeeNews @thetribunechd @htTweets @IndiaNewsPunjab
— Aman Arora (@AroraAmanSunam) March 15, 2018
Sources said the party is also considering making the apology offer to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who had sued Mr Kejriwal for accusing him of corruption during his 13-year tenure as the head of the main cricket administration body for Delhi.
The apology to Mr Majithia is the second case in seven months where Chief Minister Kejriwal has retracted his allegation. Last August, Mr Kejriwal had apologised to BJP leader Avtar Singh Bhadana to end a bitterly-fought defamation suit. Mr Bhadana had been called corrupt by the AAP leader back in 2014.
