Partymen spring to Kejriwal’s defence

NEW DELHI: Hours after graft allegations were raised against party convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, senior Aam Aadmi Party leaders thronged in support of the party founder.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Sunday rejected the corruption charges hurled by sacked minister Kapil Mishra against Kejriwal, calling it “unbelievable”.

“The kind of allegations that have been made against Kejriwal are unsubstantiated. No one will believe them,” Sisodia told the media on Sunday.

“There is no substance in this allegation,” said Sisodia, adding that the allegations came just after Mishra was told he was being removed as minister.

Senior AAP leader Kumar Vishwas also came out in support of Kejriwal, saying that he has known Kejriwal for 12 years and “even his enemies cannot imagine him taking a bribe.”

Vishwas' remarks came hours after Mishra, who was on Saturday sacked as Delhi Water Minister, alleged that he saw Delhi Health Minister Satyender Jain giving Kejriwal Rs 2 crore.

“We can disagree, fight or be disappointed with each other. I know Arvind for 12 years and I can say that I cannot imagine him taking a bribe or being corrupt. Even his enemies cannot imagine this,” Vishwas told reporters.

“Kejriwal has said this 100 times, that he should be removed if he is corrupt.

“I have called Satyender Jain and asked him to explain his position in the PAC ... whether he is being framed or has there been a mistake, we are ready for an investigation ... be it a ED or a CBI probe,” Vishwas said.

Vishwas further told reporters that the AAP'S Political Affairs Committee will meet either in the evening or on Monday.

“I feel sad about the allegations. Be it about the party's internal talks, discrepancies in ticket distribution or loopholes in political agenda; but it is wrong to level such allegations publicly,” he said.

Mishra is considered close to Vishwas, who had recently threatened to quit the party.

The former Delhi Water Minister had extended support to Vishwas, when the latter had clashed with the party leadership after the party's election debacles.

Earlier in the day, Mishra said he gave a statement to Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on “various irregularities he witnessed during his twoyear stint as a minister in the Kejriwal government”.