Kapil Mishra’s Rs 2 cr charge: Cong, BJP demand Kejriwal’s resignation, probe

Sacked Delhi minister Kapil Mishra’s allegations have put a new target on the Aam Aadmi Party and its chief Arvind Kejriwal with opposition parties calling for action from the central government.

The Congress on Sunday demanded the Narendra Modi government to initiate criminal action against Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal over allegations that he accepted Rs 2 crore, and demanded his resignation.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal (Ravi Choudhary/HT File Photo)

A day after being sacked as water minister, Aam Aadmi Party legislator Kapil Mishra claimed he saw Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain handing out Rs 2 crore to the chief minister at his residence.

“Day before yesterday (Friday), I saw Jain hand over Rs 2 crore in cash to Kejriwal at his residence. When I asked about the money, Kejriwal refused to answer,” Mishra told media at a press conference at Rajghat.

Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken told the media that Mishra’s claims were not mere allegations but the testimony of an eyewitness warranting initiation of criminal proceedings against Kejriwal.

“Mishra’s claim that Kejriwal took Rs 2 crore is not mere allegation rather an affidavit before the public of what he saw. He is saying what he saw as an eyewitness. The Centre, the Anti-Corruption Bureau and the CBI should immediately take action and register an FIR against Kejriwal.

“Kejriwal has no moral right to continue as the Chief Minister. He should immediately resign,” said Maken.

He, also targeted the Modi government for not taking action against AAP.

“Corruption charges against AAP are nothing new. The Shunglu Committee indicted the AAP government of serious corruption charges but we have seen no action... The BJP is very vocal in criticising the Kejriwal government but when it comes to taking action there is a reluctance...The Centre has to take action.”

The BJP’s Delhi unit however also demanded Kejriwal’s resignation, with president Manoj Tiwari commending Mishra for his “courage”.

“The whole of Delhi is absolutely shocked by today’s remarks of Kapil Mishra. It’s not an allegation but a statement of a witness,” ANI quoted Manoj Tiwari as saying.

He further “thanked” Mishra for finally speaking up and “doing the right thing”.

Apart from claiming that he saw money change hands, Mishra also alleged that Jain told him about “settling land deals worth Rs 50 crore for Kejriwal’s relative”.