Left BJP because Jaitley harassed us a lot: Poonam Azad after joining AAP

New Delhi: Suspended Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kirti Azad's wife, Poonam Aazd, who joined the AAP on Sunday, held her ex-colleague and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley responsible for her resignation from the saffron party, and accused the latter of scuttling her chances of getting a party ticket.

"I left the BJP because of Arun Jaitley. He has harassed us a lot. I was denied a party ticket because of him," Poonam said while addressing the media in New Delhi.

Poonam, the wife of suspended BJP MP Kirti Azad, who remained three-time BJP national executive member, said the AAP's approach to alternative politics was the primary reason for joining it.

"I find a favourable future in AAP, especially the future of younger generation; they have been indulging in alternative politics, which attracted me a lot," she said

Criticising the BJP leadership and Prime Minister Modi, Poonam said the government's decision to demonitise Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 notes has harassed the common people.

"The Prime Minister has been talking about weeding out corruption, but my husband has been fighting against it for a long time. And as far as banning currency notes are concerned, we don't favour this decision. The common people are getting harassed a lot," Poonam said.

Poonam was reportedly facing growing marginalisation in the party for some years after having earlier been a member of the BJP National Executive thrice.

Kirti Azad, who currently represents Darbhanga in the Lok Sabha was suspended by the BJP in 2015 for publicly targeting Finance Minister Arun Jaitley over corruption in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA).