Kejriwal on apology spree, but not many in AAP convinced

Team Udayavani, Apr 3, 2018, 9:12 AM IST

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal may be on an apology spree for the remarks he made against his political opponents to put an end to defamation suits, but a section of MLAs, leaders in the party still strongly disapprove of his act.

Those making small donations to the party are also believed to have questioned the logic behind the apologies. Over the last fortnight, Kejriwal has tendered apology to former Punjab minister and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia, Union minister and former BJP President Nitin Gadkari for making “defamatory” comments.

Today, he along with four AAP leaders — Sanjay Singh, Ashutosh, Raghav Chadha and Deepak Bajpai — apologised to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. They had alleged irregularities in the Delhi District Cricket Administration when Jaitley was its president.

Kejriwal cited that the legal cases were eating up a lot of his time and resources and was he was not being to fully focus on the governance on Delhi due to it. There are over 30 defamation cases against Kejriwal filed in different courts across the country.

After Kejriwal apologised to Majithia, against whom he had levelled charges involvement in drug trade, the party lawmakers from Punjab had threatened to split. To avert a split in the party, Kejriwal had a meeting with 10 of the 20 lawmakers and explained them the reason behind his apology.

He pacified the lawmakers but not all are convinced. “Kejriwal is our leader and whatever decision he has taken must have some logic behind it. But I personally disagree with the decision,” said an MLA from South Delhi, requesting anonymity.

A volunteer from Mumbai, who also coordinates with donors in the state, said those giving funds to the party are also questioning the logic behind these apologies. “We are not able to convince party men and donors on the decision,” the volunteer added.

As Kejriwal tendered an apology today seeking to bring down curtains on the defamation suit filed by Jaitley, his party colleague Kumar Vishwas, with whom he does not share a good equation currently, maintained he will not tender an apology and will continue to fight the case.