Delhi Minister Raaj Kumar Anand resigns from AAP over corruption allegations

PoliCharcha | Updated: April 10, 2024, 2:41 PM

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Delhi Minister Raaj Kumar Anand resigns from AAP over corruption allegations

Delhi Social Welfare Minister Raaj Kumar Anand took a significant step on Wednesday by resigning from his ministerial position and parting ways with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), citing corruption within the party as his reason.

This development adds to the challenges faced by the AAP, especially given that its convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is currently incarcerated in connection with an alleged liquor scam.

In his statement, the former minister expressed his disillusionment, noting that while the party was founded to combat corruption, it now finds itself embroiled in it. He stated his unwillingness to be associated with such corruption, leading to his decision to step down.

“The party was born to fight corruption, but today the party itself is mired in corruption. I can't work in this government and I don't want my name to be associated with this corruption,” the former minister said.

"Arvind Kejriwal once said at Ramlila Maidan, Jantar Mantar 'the country will change if the politics changes'. Today the politics didn't change, but the politician changed," Raaj Kumar Anand further added.

It's worth noting that Anand's residence was subjected to a raid in November 2023 by the Enforcement Directorate concerning a money laundering case unrelated to the liquor probe. Just before tendering his resignation, Anand shared AAP MP Sanjay Singh's press conference on social media.

"I came to politics and then became a minister because of Babasaheb Ambedkar. I wanted to pay back to the society. I do not want to be in a party that takes a backseat as far as Dalit representation is concerned," Raaj Kumar Anand said.

His resignation coincided with Delhi Minister Atishi's allegations that the BJP was actively working to dismantle the AAP, even claiming that she was approached by the BJP. However, these claims faced scrutiny, with BJP leaders disputing them and taking legal action against Atishi. In contrast, Anand clarified that he had no intentions of joining any other party.

Anand, who has been associated with Kejriwal's movement since 2011 and served as a member of the AAP's national council, won the Patel Nagar seat in the 2020 assembly elections. While the AAP expressed sympathy for Anand's apprehensions, they also urged against adopting a similar approach, citing the examples of leaders like Sanjay Singh and Manish Sisodia.

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