Introduction
The political landscape of Delhi has been rocked by a series of explosive allegations leveled against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its National Convener, Arvind Kejriwal. These allegations, made by former AAP legislator and grandson of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, Adarsh Shastri, have sent shockwaves through the nation's capital and beyond. At the heart of the controversy is the claim that Kejriwal's party received substantial funding from Khalistani sympathizers abroad, a revelation that has ignited a firestorm of criticism and calls for accountability.
Arvind Kejriwal ignored about party’s fundraising activities from Khalistani sympathisers outside India: Adarsh Shashtri (Image Source - IANS and Hindustan Times)
The Allegations
In an exclusive interview with the news agency IANS, Adarsh Shastri, who is currently affiliated with the Congress party, made a series of damning allegations against his former party and its leader. According to Shastri, during his tenure as an AAP legislator, he managed the party's overseas work and was disturbed to witness the party seeking funds from gurdwaras in Canada and Germany that displayed photos of Bhindranwale and Operation Bluestar terrorists.
Shastri claims that he and Kumar Vishwas, another prominent AAP leader at the time, raised these concerns with Kejriwal, but their warnings were ignored. "What this could mean, you can interpret for yourself," Shastri ominously stated, implying a troubling connection between the AAP and Khalistani sympathizers.
The Swati Maliwal Assault
In addition to the funding allegations, Shastri also lambasted the AAP over the brazen assault of the party's serving Rajya Sabha MP, Swati Maliwal, inside the Chief Minister's residence. He expressed disbelief at how Maliwal could be punched and thrashed within the confines of Kejriwal's official residence, and he criticized the AAP leadership for maintaining a deafening silence on the issue.
Dwarka MLA Adarsh Shastri. (File Photo | PTI)
Shastri accused the AAP of rallying behind Bibhav Kumar, Kejriwal's personal assistant, rather than seeking justice for Maliwal. He described Kumar as a powerful figure within the Chief Minister's office, serving as a gatekeeper who decided who would meet Kejriwal and what would be discussed.
Megalomaniac Tendencies and Double Standards
In his scathing interview, Shastri portrayed Kejriwal as a megalomaniac who exhibits symptoms of self-aggrandizement and disdain for others. He alleged that Kejriwal believes meeting party legislators or public representatives is beneath his dignity, a stark contrast from the party's professed ideology of being a voice for the common person.
Furthermore, Shastri blamed Kejriwal for the "exodus of top leaders and founding members" from the AAP, attributing their departures to Kejriwal's "double standards and doublespeak on multiple issues."
The Nirbhaya Fund and Women's Safety
Shastri also criticized the Kejriwal government for its failure to adequately address women's safety in the capital. He pointed out that the party had failed to utilize the Nirbhaya Fund, a fund established to enhance the safety and security of women in the wake of the horrific 2012 Delhi gang rape case.
The Khalistani Connection
In a startling revelation, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the founder of the terror outfit Sikhs For Justice, has accused Khalistani groups of funneling an astonishing USD 16 million (approximately Rs 133.54 crore) to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) between 2014 and 2022 to fund their election campaigns. Pannun’s claims took a more sinister turn with the allegation that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal made a startling proposition in 2014. According to Pannun, Kejriwal purportedly suggested releasing convicted terrorist Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar in exchange for financial backing. Bhullar’s involvement in the 1993 Delhi Bomb Blast, which killed nine people and injured 31 others, adds to the gravity of Pannun’s allegations.
Pannun stated, “Arvind Kejriwal and his associates, who call themselves honest Indian Hindus, turned out to be more dangerous than the dishonest Indian Hindus. When Kejriwal was not in power in 2014, he came to the US and promised pro-Khalistani groups that he would release Professor Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar within five hours of forming a government. We told them not to trust him at that time. It has been nine years since he came to power.”
Adding another layer of complexity to these allegations, it has come to light that in 2014, Arvind Kejriwal, the current Chief Minister of Delhi, penned a letter to then-President Pranab Mukherjee advocating for clemency for Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar. This revelation raises further questions about Kejriwal’s stance on terrorism-related issues and the extent of his involvement in negotiations with extremist elements.
The BJP's Protest and AAP's Response
In response to the allegations, the Delhi unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a major protest on Tuesday, demanding Kejriwal's resignation over the alleged receipt of funds from the banned terrorist organization 'Sikhs for Justice'. The protest took place a day after Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena recommended an NIA probe into the matter. Numerous BJP workers gathered near the AAP headquarters, carrying placards and chanting slogans against Kejriwal and the AAP. The Delhi BJP president, Virendra Sachdeva, criticized Kejriwal and the AAP, stating that no one should seek support or funds from those involved in anti-India activities.
In response, the AAP dismissed the allegations as "another conspiracy" orchestrated by the BJP against Kejriwal. AAP spokesperson Bhardwaj mentioned that a similar conspiracy was concocted by the BJP before the Punjab Assembly elections in 2022.
Conclusion
The allegations of Khalistani funding and connections with extremist elements have cast a dark shadow over the Aam Aadmi Party and its National Convener, Arvind Kejriwal. The gravity of these claims, coupled with the alleged assault on a party MP and the failure to address women's safety, has raised serious questions about the party's integrity and commitment to its professed ideals. As the controversy unfolds, calls for transparency and accountability have grown louder, with demands for a thorough investigation into the matter. The Khalistani funding allegations have not only shaken the political landscape but have also reignited debates surrounding national security and the potential influence of extremist groups on the democratic process.
Regardless of the outcome, the revelations have undoubtedly tarnished the AAP's image and cast doubt on Kejriwal's leadership. The party now faces an uphill battle to regain the trust of the public and address the serious allegations leveled against it. The road ahead is fraught with challenges, and only time will tell if the AAP can weather this storm and emerge unscathed.
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