In a critical attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its leadership at the national level, Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa criticized former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal sharply, claiming that the party has been constructed on the basis of "lies and corruption." He also attacked AAP's national ascent as "misleading.
Addressing an exclusive interview with IANS on Tuesday, Sirsa expressed serious doubts regarding suspected Khalistani links to AAP, citing accusations made by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of a proscribed separatist group.
It's common knowledge that anti-national elements have supported Kejriwal. Pannun himself has said he gave crores of rupees to Kejriwal. Kejriwal has never contradicted or dismissed these allegations. So there's nothing further we have to prove—Pannun's own confession is proof enough," Sirsa stated.
He also retorted against AAP's assertions that the BJP government in Delhi was targetting Purvanchali communities, charging the party with wilful misinformation.
"AAP specializes in spreading falsehoods. If AAP is to be joined, the person must be good at lying and corruption. They mislead the people with false facts, but the facts contradict them," Sirsa accused.
Brushing aside AAP's success in recent by-elections, including Ludhiana West and Visavadar in Gujarat, Sirsa claimed that winning a few scattered seats does not reflect the effective national presence.
"Winning a seat or two doesn't make any difference. Even smaller parties achieve that. AAP's victory in Visavadar or Ludhiana is not historic. They even won a candidate in Jammu and Kashmir—it doesn't make them a national force," he said.
Repeating the allegations regarding AAP's relationship with separatist funding, Sirsa once again quoted Gurpatwant Singh Pannun's contentious remarks.
"The fact that a person like Pannun openly flaunts giving money to Kejriwal, and there is no clarification or denial from him, says it all. There's no need to go further," he added.
Sirsa also criticized Kejriwal's frequent visits to Punjab, suggesting the Delhi CM is dodging questions and using Punjab as a political shield.
Kejriwal lives on exercising power. Because AAP is in power in Punjab, he's deployed there—utilizing the security of the state, cars, even choppers. Unless there is something to gain personally, he doesn't care about Delhi. It only demonstrates that he's more interested in continuing to hold power rather than doing the work of the people," Sirsa asserted.
The observations follow continued investigations and political upheavals around the Delhi Chief Minister, with increased speculation regarding the effects of purported separatist affiliations and graft cases on AAP's political prospects.
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