I will continue to work for AAP and raise issues: Yogendra Yadav
The Aam Aam Party’s (AAP) national executive on Wednesday had sacked founder members Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan from its key decision-making political affairs committee. Bhushan and Yadav claimed they wanted AAP to be more democratic, while the party accused them of trying to challenge Kejriwal’s leadership.
The Aam Aam Party’s (AAP) national executive on Wednesday had sacked founder members Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan from its key decision-making political affairs committee. Bhushan and Yadav claimed they wanted AAP to be more democratic, while the party accused them of trying to challenge Kejriwal’s leadership.
In an interview with Hindustan Times on Thursday, Yadav — a well known political expert — refused to comment on the proceedings of the national executive meeting. He, however, did state that the phoney allegations hurt him. Excerpts:
Senior AAP leader Mayank Gandhi has raised serious questions on his blog as to how you and Prashant Bhushan were ousted…
As I said at the outset that the party has taken a decision that we would not like to comment (on the proceedings of the national executive). But I am confident that the truth will prevail.
You seem unaffected. But you’re hurt, right?
No. I know dozens of people you are much more qualified than me but have never had a post in the party. It would be presumptuous of me and Prashant ji to believe that we were two conscience keepers of the party. The party has thousands of conscience keepers. I had two productive years with the PAC.
But yes, when spurious allegations are leveled, it hurts.
Lakhs of people pinned their hopes on the AAP. Do you think the recent developments have disappointed them?
I have got thousands of messages — expressing solidarity, despair, dismay and shock. I need to tell to all these people that we cannot lose hope. You cannot stop believing in the idea of AAP just because of one event. It is an extraordinary movement in our country’s democracy. My message is clear — let’s all unite. I want to assure them that we will fulfill the reasons for which this party was formed. We will keep fighting for our beliefs internally and externally. One thing is for sure — I will continue raising issues of transparency, inner democracy, high ethical standards and those related to volunteers.
I personally believe the party will respond to these constructively.
What exactly is your role in the party now?
I will do whatever the party asks me to. I continue to be a member of the Aam Aam Party’s national executive. I’m currently involved in Jai Kisan Abhiyaan in Haryana, working on issues related to farmers, undertaking protests against the Land Acquisition Ordinance, reduction of land acquisition compensation on remunerative prices for farmers and on issues of urea scarcity. I want to travel beyond Haryana and work on issues related to farmers. I’m also the chief spokesperson of the party. It’s a lot of work for a person to handle.