Would’ve been in jail if allegations were true: Kejriwal on Mishra’s graft claim

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal termed the corruption allegations levelled by his former cabinet colleague Kapil Mishra as ‘baseless. Former Delhi water minister has alleged that he saw Satyendar Jain handing over money to Kejriwal.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal termed the corruption allegations levelled by his former cabinet colleague Kapil Mishra as “baseless which even the opponents were refusing to believe” and said that had there been any substance in the allegations, he would “have been in jail by now”.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal attended a party workers’ convention in Punjabi Bagh and rubbished allegations levelled by former minister Kapil Mishra. (Ravi Choudhary/HT Photo)

The AAP national convener was addressing party volunteers at a state-level convention at Punjabi Bagh, which was organised to launch a renewed outreach programme, both to connect with the voters besides consolidating the party cadre at the booth level.

“Our movement has been under attack over the past few days. It’s good because it shows they feel threatened by us. Had there been even an iota of truth (in the allegations), I would have been in jail… What can I say against such baseless allegations...people don’t believe it, even opponents are not believing (the allegations)” Kejriwal was quoted as saying by the party’s Twitter handle.

Without taking names, Kejriwal, however, said that he has the courage to take on the corrupt and mighty, but it hurts “when you are betrayed by one of your own”

As part of the party’s strategy to renew the ‘connect’ of the party with the people, AAP has decided that party legislators and ministers will meet people at 10 am on a daily basis without an appointment.

The convention was organised by the Delhi unit to launch the ‘mera booth sabse majboot’ initiative aimed at restructuring the AAP at the booth level. The move comes following a ‘realisation’ in the party that it failed to reach out to people with its government’s achievements and that was one of the reasons for party’s loss in the municipal elections.

The AAP legislators had also complained of ‘inaccessibility’ of ministers and the chief minister as one of the reasons for the loss.

Kejriwal announced at the meeting that he will be interacting with party volunteers at 8 pm on the first Sunday of every month through Google hangout.