One day following the Delhi High Court's dismissal of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's petition contesting his arrest by the ED in the excise policy case, Raaj Kumar Anand, a minister from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), tendered his resignation, citing his unwillingness to be associated with individuals he perceives as corrupt.
Expressing his sentiments to the media on Wednesday, Anand underscored his inspiration drawn from the works of B.R. Ambedkar, which propelled him into politics, leading him to assume the role of an MLA despite his background in business. He emphasized his alignment with the Aam Aadmi Party and Arvind Kejriwal's espousal of Babasaheb's ideals.
Anand lamented the disparity between the lip service paid to Ambedkar's ideals and the actual implementation thereof, pointing out the ubiquitous presence of Ambedkar's portrait in government offices juxtaposed with the lack of substantive action towards realizing his vision.
The minister highlighted the absence of Dalit or backward class representation within AAP's ranks, particularly in the Rajya Sabha, despite the constitutional mandate for reservation. He criticized the party's silence on matters concerning reservation and its failure to address the underrepresentation of Dalits in key positions.
Anand expressed his frustration over recent recruitments in the Assembly, which allegedly sidelined Dalits, exacerbating his disillusionment. He declared his resignation from his ministerial position, citing his refusal to collaborate with what he perceives as a morally compromised environment. Anand decried the dearth of respect and representation afforded to Dalit leaders within the party, voicing his discontent over AAP's perceived silence on Dalit issues.
In closing, Anand clarified his stance, asserting that his resignation stems not from animosity towards higher castes but from his commitment to addressing the systemic marginalization of Dalits within AAP's organizational structure.
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