We will not spare our own leaders if they are found to be involved in corruption, says AAP convener
Lauding Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for sacking his Health Minister Vijay Singla over graft charges, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said corruption is a betrayal of the nation which his party will not allow.
Addressing a virtual press conference here, the Delhi Chief Minister said his AAP is a “diehard honest party” and will not tolerate corruption. "We will not spare even our own leaders if they are found to be involved in corruption. We are proud of Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann who immediately removed his Minister when he was found involved in corruption," he said. "We would rather die than betray the country," he added.
Earlier, taking to Twitter, Kejriwal said Mann's action "brought tears” to his eyes. “Proud of you Bhagwant. Ur action has brought tears to my eyes. Whole nation today feels proud of AAP,” Kejriwal wrote on Twitter. ‘The AAP Convenor equated the step with the party's commitment to honesty and Deshbhakti and asserted that it was a first of its kind in Indian history.
“A case has been filed against Punjab’s former Health Minister, and he is being arrested. No one in the media or the Opposition was aware of this corruption – if Mann Saab wanted, he could have colluded with the corrupt Minister and kept a share for himself. He took it upon himself to take immediate actions against the corrupt Health Minister,” said Kejriwal.
“All of us at the AAP, the State of Punjab, as well as the entire nation, are extremely proud of him. In 2015, when the AAP came to power in Delhi, I took a similar action against our Minister of Food and Civil Supplies after I had received evidence of his corruption,” said Kejriwal
“The AAP is a staunchly honest Government, meaning that we will not forgive even our own people if they decide to take the wrong path and indulge in corrupt activities,” he said.
Singla has been arrested by the vigilance bureau, after he was found allegedly demanding one per cent commission for passing tenders.