The Asian Age

AAP stands behind its chief Kejriwal

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NEW DELHI, MAY 21 After Mr Kejriwal was taken into custody, senior AAP leaders held an informal meeting and later issued a statement expressing solidarity with him in his fight against corruption. In a statement, the AAP claimed there was no provision in the law that makes it mandatory for a defendant against whom a complaint is filed in a defamation case to furnish bail bond, particular­ly when he is ready and willing to be present in court on the fixed date of hearing. The party claimed it was the AAP expose against Mr Gadkari on his business and land deals that had ultimately led to his resignatio­n as BJP president.

On the formation of a new government in Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, who recommende­d dissolutio­n of the Assembly to lieutenant­governor Najeeb Jung after quitting the Delhi government, took a U- turn Tuesday by requesting him not to dissolve it as his party wanted a week to invite public opinion on whether it should form the government again.

He also moved the Supreme Court seeking dissolutio­n of the House. With media reports suggesting a possible split in the AAP and the Congress refusing to support him, saying the newbie party helped the BJP in dividing the secular vote in the Lok Sabha elections, he immediatel­y convened a meeting with his legislator­s and declared he was ready for a fresh poll.

“We have decided to prepare for fresh polls. In the coming weeks we will hold a lot of sabhas, apologise to Delhi’s citizens and convince them to give us a clear majority so that we can form a corruption- free government,” Mr Kejriwal said after meeting his legislator­s. On the social media, Mr Kejriwal’s “Sorry Sabhas” went viral. The Congress once again attacked him with its local unit head Arvinder Singh Lovely terming him a “power- hungry man” who wanted to gain power by misleading the electorate.

Known for his theatrics, Mr Kejriwal, as Delhi CM, had hit the headlines as he held a protest outside Parliament in protest against inaction by three SHOs. He was criticised by one and all for declaring himself as an “anarchist” and putting the city to ransom.

 ?? — PTI SANJAY KAW and PRAGYA SINGH ?? AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal’s wife Sunita at Patiala House Courts in New Delhi on Wednesday. The court remanded Mr Kejriwal in judicial custody in a defamation case filed by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari.
— PTI SANJAY KAW and PRAGYA SINGH AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal’s wife Sunita at Patiala House Courts in New Delhi on Wednesday. The court remanded Mr Kejriwal in judicial custody in a defamation case filed by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari.

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