New Delhi: Sacked Delhi minister Sandeep Kumar, who was removed over an objectionable video and photographs, was on Saturday suspended from Aam Aadmi Party’s primary membership.
On Wednesday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had sacked Kumar after receiving a nine-minute-long CD in which Kumar was purportedly shown in a compromising position with a woman. Kejriwal had said that AAP stood for "propriety in public life".
The suspension of his primary membership of the party comes nearly four days after the decision to remove the 36-year-old minister was taken at a high-level meeting attended by top AAP leaders.
Kejriwal attempted to downplay the matter by claiming that AAP, which is the nation's biggest hope, does not spare wilful wrongdoers.
The AAP convenor said that he would prefer to forfeit his party but never tolerate corruption and wrongful activities, as the AAP does not believe in hiding flaws of its members.
Commenting on Kumar's "misdeeds", Kejriwal said that his former Cabinet colleague has betrayed the party and the people of Delhi.
He said that Sandeep Kumar was a "rotten fish" which was immediately removed after its illness came to light.
Kumar, however, denied the allegations claiming the video was fabricated and he was being targeted because he is a Dalit.
"I come from a poor family. The poor are always trapped. Every time we rise, there are conspiracies to crush us. I am being targeted because I have set up a statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar in my house. I am ready for every agni-pariksha (trial by fire)," said the 34-year-old MLA who was elected from Sultanpur Majra.
To determine the authenticity of the CD, the Delhi Police's Crime Branch has initiated an investigation.
