JOIN USKejriwal issues gag order to party leaders
As the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) stares at internal strife following the debacle in Delhi civic polls, its chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has read the riot act by issuing a gag order on its leaders.
The direction to keep quiet came following remarks by senior leader Kumar Vishwas and Delhi MLA Amanatullah Khan, which created trouble for the party.
While a meeting of the all-powerful Political Affairs Committee (PAC) is likely to be held on Monday night, a section of AAP MLAs from Delhi and Punjab is learnt to have written to the party leadership to take disciplinary action against Khan for his comments against Vishwas. Both Vishwas and Khan are members of the PAC.
Vishwas questioned the AAP leadership on a variety of issues, while Khan had accused the former of trying to usurp leadership from Kejriwal.
A section of MLAs and leaders also reportedly supports Vishwas coming to the party leadership and Kejriwal focusing fully on the government.
Trying to douse the fire, Kejriwal had on Sunday tweeted, “Vishwas is my younger brother. Some people are trying to create a rift between us. No one can separate us.”
Sources said Kejriwal has now asked Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia to broker peace between Vishwas and his opponents in the party.
The feeling in the Vishwas camp is that Khan’s remarks were part of a strategy of a section to create roadblocks to ensure that he does not get more role in the party.
As the spat spilled over to public domain, Kejriwal warned the leaders against making remarks on any forum other than that of the party.
The chief minister is of the view that indiscipline cannot be tolerated. Khan was miffed at the party chief’s open support for Vishwas when the latter had criticised the chief minister in public. Khan claimed that Vishwas was planning to quit the AAP and join the BJP, if he is not made party chief and that he held a meeting with AAP leaders and MLAs at his residence.
Amanatullah resigns from PAC
AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan resigned from the party’s PAC on Monday, PTI reports. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said the party leadership was upset with both Khan as well Vishwas for airing their differences in public. He said the PAC has accepted Khan’s resignation.