News Brief
AAP Patel Nagar MLA and Delhi Cabinet minister Raaj Kumar Anand.
AAP Patel Nagar MLA and Delhi Cabinet minister Raaj Kumar Anand announced his resignation from the party, citing its alleged involvement in corruption.
He expressed disappointment that the party, which was founded on an anti-corruption movement, had strayed from its original ideals, as per a report by The Indian Express.
He stated, “I had entered politics when Kejriwal had said that if its politics changes, the country will change. But today, I say with much regret, that politics did not change but political leaders did. The AAP was born out of a movement against corruption, but today this party is mired in the same quicksand of graft.”
"I came to politics and then became a minister because of Babasaheb Ambedkar. I wanted to pay back to the society. I do not want to be in a party that takes a backseat as far as Dalit representation is concerned," he said.
Anand stated that he could no longer continue working with the government or the party, as he did not want to be associated with corruption.
He further said, "It has become impossible for me to continue working as part of this government. I tender my resignation from this party, this government and the post of its minister because I do not want my name to be added in such corrupt actions. I do not believe that we have the moral right to continue in government any longer."
His resignation comes at a time when Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is in judicial custody in connection with the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy and Deputy CM Manish Sisodia is in jail for over a year.
Earlier, too many members of party have come under scanner for financial irregularities in Delhi Jal Board, irregularities in Public Distribution Sector and money laundering charges.
It is worth noting that Anand himself is under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence in an alleged money laundering case related to unaccounted business investments and hawala payments sent to China in 2023.
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