NEW DELHI: Deputy CM of Delhi Manish Sisodia and Kumar Vishwas, AAP founding member lashed out at each other on Tuesday in front of media. This made the inner gap even more evident in the Aam Admi Party.
Vishwas, who is accused by AAP MLA Amantuallah Khan of mixing with BJP and RSS asked the party why no action has been taken against Okhla MLA, TOI reported.
He further stated that Amanatullah was a “mask” behind those who conspire against him. “Had Amanatullah Khan said anything like this against Arvind or Manish, he would have been shown the door in 10 minutes,” Vishwas said.
Sisodia in his defence backfired Vishwas of the party for sobbing in front of media. “Volunteers understand who is Kumar Vishwas helping by airing his grievances through media,” Sisodia said, adding, “Vishwas was invited to party’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC) meet but he didn’t turn up.”
“If he has a problem with the party, he should raise it in the party forum,” he claimed. Earlier, Vishwas had said, “If someone had spoken against Arvind or Manish, the party would not have been silent.”
He also denied apologising for a video wherein he attacked AAP convener and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal for his stand. According to the sources, AAP had issued a gag order against some of its leaders, including Kumar Vishwas, and the latter broke his silence, saying, ‘I will speak out whenever required,’ accusing Okhla MLA of spreading false allegations against him to demotivate the party team and said: “I will not be affected by any negative campaign against me.”
Vishwas also ruled out any ambition for the top posts in the Delhi government or party and had said: “I have conveyed this to Arvind, Manish (Sisodia) and I reiterate it today that I don’t want to become chief minister, deputy chief minister or AAP’s national convenor.”
“I don’t want to join any political party or swaraj India (political party founded by expelled AAP leader Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan),” he further said.
“I don’t know what you want to do, but I don’t want to do this,” Vishwas told reporters outside his residence at Ghaziabad. He said that the disconnects in the party will demotivate the Volunteers.
“Five years ago, we didn’t sign up for this. Today, we have disappointed a major section of our grassroots workers. Neither I nor they signed up for this. There are many who left their jobs to volunteer for us,” Vishwas reported emotionally.
Earlier in the day, few AAP MLAs, including Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra met Vishwas in order to appease him. However, he remained adamant over Amanatullah being sacked from the party.
Amanatullah had accused Vishwas of plotting to turn 34 AAP MLAs against Kejriwal. He had also accused Vishwas of acting at the behest of BJP, which was ready to pay Rs 30 crore for each AAP turncoat legislator.
Kejriwal also defended Vishwas and called him a younger brother.
“Kumar is my younger brother. Some people are trying to drive a wedge between us. They are enemies of the party. They should refrain. No one can separate us,” he had tweeted.