New Delhi, Dec 26
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), a member of the opposition INDIA bloc, on Thursday issued a stern ultimatum to the Congress, demanding action against its Delhi leader Ajay Maken within 24 hours, else the party would push for the Congress' removal from the alliance.
AAP leaders Sanjay Singh and Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, at a press conference here, demanded clarification from the Congress leadership and immediate disciplinary measures against Maken. Accusing him of making anti-AAP statements, they alleged that Maken has been acting at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
"Ajay Maken crossed all limits on Wednesday by calling Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi's most popular leader, anti-national," Singh said.
He further accused the Congress of orchestrating smear campaigns against the AAP in collusion with the BJP, adding that the Youth Congress has even filed a complaint against Kejriwal and CM Atishi.
Singh claimed that in the Lok Sabha elections, AAP campaigned for Congress candidates as part of the INDIA bloc’s strategy, yet Congress has been working against the alliance's spirit.
"It appears that Congress' candidates list in Delhi comes directly from the BJP office. Funds for their candidates are also allegedly provided by the BJP," he alleged.
Doubling down on the allegations, Atishi stated that sources have revealed BJP funding for Congress candidates in Delhi. "Sandeep Dikshit and the Congress candidate from Jangpura, Farhad Suri, are receiving BJP support. It’s now evident that Congress has a nexus with BJP in Delhi elections," she claimed.