Shunglu report was released to divert attention from ‘EVM fraud’: AAP
NEW DELHI: Amidst the uproar caused by the Shunglu Committee report, the Aam Aadmi Party on Thursday accused the opposition of diverting the attention from what it called the “EVM fraud”. The party asked, “Why a similar committee was not set up to probe irregularities in Delhi's municipal corporations?”
Questioning the timing of the report, AAP leader Dilip Pandey said, “If the Bharatiya Janata Party (Bjp)-ruled central government actually had evidence against AAP, it should immediately send its leaders to jail.”
Pandey's remarks came after Delhi Congress President Ajay Maken on Thursday demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the Shunglu Committee report. The report has accused AAP government of irreg- ularities and nepotism in making appointments and abuse of power.
“Every time the elections approach, BJP and Congress make baseless allegations against us, which are forgotten immediately after elections are over. This happened in 2015 assembly polls, 2014 Lok Sabha elections as well as in 2013,” said Pandey.
Pandey also stated that the BJP was finding it impossible to respond to the ‘EVM fraud' being exposed by the AAP, backed with ‘solid evidence' and hence is trying to divert the public attention.
The AAP had been consistently claiming that the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMS) were not tamperproof and were actually manipulated during the assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
Pandey accused both Congress and BJP of looting the municipal corporations for the last 20 years.
“If you (opposition parties) have evidence against us, then stop this drama and just place it before the public and hang us, or send us to jail. But who will probe and hang those plundering the municipal corporations?” added Pandey. Speaking on the issue, AAP leader Ashutosh said, “The issue was being raised as both opposition parties did not want any discussions on the AAP'S work in the field of education, health, providing free water and cheap electricity to the people of Delhi.”
Referring to the report that said rules were flouted to allot a bungalow at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg or erstwhile Rouse Avenue to set up the AAP'S office, Ashutosh stated, “Now they want a recognised party having its government in the state not to even have an office.”
Stating that there were no irregularities but the only difference of opinion between the Delhi government and Lt Governor, he said, “No one asks how the Congress having zero seats in the Delhi assembly could have an office in Delhi. Or how the BJP having just three seats also have an office in Delhi,” he added.
“We disagreed with the Lt Governor's interpretation of rules that we need his approval for some of our decisions. So we did not send certain files to him,” added Pandey.