AAP leaders meet volunteers to boost morale

The Aam Aadmi Party on Friday called a meeting of party volunteers to clear “confusion” over the arrest of AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal.

The meeting called at 6.30 pm at the Constitution Club in central Delhi lasted for more than two hours and hundreds of volunteers attended it.

Senior AAP leaders Yogendra Yadav, Ashutosh, Sanjay Singh and others held discussions with volunteers and answered their queries regarding Kejriwal’s arrest.

“The session was called to decide how to highlight the issue on which Kejriwal opted for jail and not bail. The volunteers were also told that how difficult it has become to raise voice against corruption after the change of regime,” AAP leader and former Delhi law minister Somnath Bharti told Deccan Herald.

At the meeting, volunteers asked a number of questions related to the arrest of the party’s founder Kejriwal for not furnishing a bail bond of Rs 10,000.  senior leaders assured the volunteers that they have adequate legal support to handle the situation.

“The session was largely focused on interaction with volunteers. The senior leaders guided them and cleared any confusion they had in mind on the arrest of Kejriwal,” AAP volunteer Rajesh said.

Some of the volunteers also asked why party leader Yogendra Yadav agreed to a bail bond when the party chief refused.

“The senior leaders explained the difference between the two cases. While Kejriwal was summoned by court, Yadav was arrested by police. Once any person is arrested, a bail bond has to be given. In Kejriwal’s case, the court is treating him as he has done any crime,” he added.

The leaders also boosted the morale of the volunteers and presented data on the recent general elections.

“The volunteers were told that the party scored second in all the parliamentary constituencies of Delhi and our vote share is impressive despite the defeat,” he added.

AAP’s Shazia Ilmi may quit party

Shazia Ilmi, one of the founder members of the AAP, is understood to be considering resigning from the party, reports PTI from New Delhi. Party sources said Ilmi was unhappy with the party leadership on certain issues, including the choice of her Lok Sabha constituency Ghaziabad, from where she unsuccessfully contested.

Ilmi, a journalist who has been with AAP since its inception, had conveyed the party leadership her desire to contest from one of the seven seats in Delhi. She is expected to address the media on Saturday.