A day after AAP sacked MLA Kapil Mishra, the latter levelled stunning allegations of corruption against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Health Minister Satyendar Jain.
He alleged that he “saw” Jain handing over “Rs 2 crore” to Kejriwal at his official residence.
i have witnessed HIM taking illegal cash.. have shared all details with Lt. Gov.
चुप रहना असंभव था। कुर्सी क्या प्राण भी जाये तो जाए— Kapil Mishra (@KapilMishraAAP) May 7, 2017
This is the first time that an allegation of corruption and bribery has been made directly against Kejriwal. Ironically, it was the anti-corruption stance of Kejtiwal that made people of Delhi vote for him and his Aam Aadmi Party in 2015.
For many, it was a shocking revelation, but needless to say, AAP party members came all out in defence of their chief minister.
Deputy Chief minister Manish Sisodia has denied the charges, calling them “absurd” and “baseless”.
His allegations are not even worth responding to, they are so absurd and without any facts: Manish Sisodia,Delhi Dy CM on Kapil Mishra pic.twitter.com/FoJLcHZetB
— ANI (@ANI_news) May 7, 2017
Senior AAP leader Kumar Vishwas came out in his support, saying he has known him for 12 years and even his enemies cannot imagine him taking a bribe.
अरविंद से मेरा 12 वर्ष का परिचय है और इतने साल काम करने के बाद मैं कह सकता हूँ कि @ArvindKejriwal भ्रष्टाचार करेगा ये मैं सोच भी नहीं सकता
— Dr Kumar Vishvas (@DrKumarVishwas) May 7, 2017
Former AAP member and political analyst Yogendra Yadav said he could not give credence to corruption allegations against Mr Kejriwal.
I might agree with charges of power greed, arrogance, authoritarianism against Kejriwal, but charge of taking bribe need solid evidence.
— Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) May 7, 2017
AAP leader Ashish Khetan asserted, “The truth will prevail soon and this is not the first hinder block that the party has faced. Arvind Kejriwal does not need to react to every wild and baseless accusation against him.”
Arvind Kejriwal ko kharidne wala abhi tak is duniya me bana nahi hai
— Ashish Khetan (@AashishKhetan) May 7, 2017
Meanwhile opposition parties like BJP and Congress have demanded the resignation of Arvind Kejriwal in the wake of allegations
For unbiased inquiry on serious allegations by @KapilMishraAAP , @ArvindKejriwal and @SatyendarJain must step down. #KejriwalMustResign
— Manoj Tiwari (@ManojTiwariMP) May 8, 2017
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy called Kejriwal ‘shameless’
‘Shameless’ Kejriwal won’t resign unless CBI takes action: Swamy
Read @ANI_news story | https://t.co/qpZsX4vWRM pic.twitter.com/kGh9CeZT4X— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) May 7, 2017
Youth Congress workers on Sunday even staged a protest outside the residence of Kejriwal
Youth Congress protests and seeks resignation of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal after allegations of corruption on him by ex minister #KapilMishra https://t.co/Gp6Mnur7b4
— Youth Congress (@IYC) May 7, 2017
Demanding a CBI probe into the allegations, the outfit said Kejriwal should resign from the post of chief minister pending the investigation.
Delhi: Youth Congress protest outside Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s residence over Kapil Mishra’s allegations, water cannons used pic.twitter.com/CgwLhV1odL
— ANI (@ANI_news) May 7, 2017
Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken on Sunday said the party had “lost its anti- corruption plank.”
“Kejriwal has no moral right to continue as chief minister in the wake of the allegations by Mishra. He should step down,” he said at a press conference in Delhi.
Watch my reaction on Kapil Mishra’s allegations and why Kejriwal should step down?
Mishra’s allegations are not just one-off incident! https://t.co/dgwZnYnOOp— Ajay Maken (@ajaymaken) May 7, 2017
Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh also sought the resignation of Kejriwal, claiming that the AAP supremo had no moral right to continue in office as his “corrupt face” had been “totally exposed”.
Robert Vadra, who has been at the receiving end of Kejriwal’s accusations of dubious land deals, took a dig on the Delhi CM
What goes around comes around!
From inception in 2010, ppl who threw baseless,false accusations at me are now facing a similar plight 1/4… pic.twitter.com/kzKuruPsDQ— With Robert Vadra (@WithRV) May 8, 2017
Had been on the receiving end of a political and media campaign to malign me. I sincerely wish Mr Kejriwal all the best3/4.#kejriwalexposed
— With Robert Vadra (@WithRV) May 8, 2017
79-year-old activist Anna Hazare, who was the mentor of Delhi CM said he was “saddened” by corruption allegations
Kejriwal became CM due to fight against corruption in Delhi, and the news of allegations on him today is saddening: Anna Hazare pic.twitter.com/JmuNtL5AMt
— ANI (@ANI_news) May 7, 2017
Without naming anyone, lieutenant governor of Pondicherry Kiran Bedi wrote
Allegations of corruption made by a Minister claiming to b an eye witness, against his own CM needs an independent investigation forthwith..
— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) May 7, 2017
Senior journalists and lawyers also reacted to the whole fiasco
AAP is now a victim of its own narrative; having asked for resignations from others on allegations, expect rivals to ask from you now!
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) May 7, 2017
If Kejriwal’s Jan Lokpal Bill was passed, he & Jain would be in jail, charged & judged by same Lokpal & Kapil Mishra getting ₹20 lakh reward
— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) May 7, 2017
AK gradually destroyed the ideals & principles of Alt politics on which AAP was founded & betrayed hopes of millions https://t.co/CumEz6RA63
— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) May 8, 2017
The true test of character comes in adversity.We are now seeing the true faces of AAP’s remnants as it’s ship sinks.What an opportunity lost
— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) May 7, 2017
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