Disqualification of AAP MLAs, a parting gift by AK Jyoti to Narendra Modi, alleges AAP

NEW DELHI: An embattled Aam Aadmi Party on Saturday trained the guns on PM Narendra Modi over the election commission's reported recommendation to the president to disqualify 20 AAP MLAs who were appointed parliamentary secretaries in early 2015, after which office of profit proceedings started against them.
"EC's recommendation to disqualify 20 MLAs is clearly an attempt to please PM Narendra Modi. It is a parting gift to Modi by chief election commissioner AK Joti who is retiring in January 23," AAP Delhi convener Gopal Rai alleged at a press conference held at party headquarters.

He claimed that Jyoti is a bureaucrat known to be one of the closest aides to Modi. "The CEC has misused the powers of his office," Rai said.

On Friday the EC reportedly recommended to president Ram Nath Kovind to disqualify 20 AAP MLAs. The recommendation of the EC is binding on the president. Though the disqualification will not have any impact on AAP government which will continue to enjoy majority in the assembly, but it will definitely weaken the government and strengthen it's opponents.

Recaping the opinions of the 20 MLAs standing in the line of fire, Rai accused the EC of being "partisan and baised" in its opinions on the issue because it "did not bother to allow the MLAs accused of holding the offices of profit to present their cases."

"Even under the oppressive British rule, no matter was decided without hearing both sides. But in Modi government the CEC has passed the order without giving the MLAs a single opportunity to present arguments in their defense."

Rai claimed that on June 23, 2017 the EC had communicated to them that the MLAs would be called by the poll panel to hear their case, but none of the MLAs were called. Rai rubbished the remarks of Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken and some others that the MLAs were given enough opportunities to present their cases.

The party has claimed that the order of appointment of parliamentary secretaries issued by the Delhi assembly clearly stated that none of the MLAs would be entitled to any pecuniary benefits or government perks of any kind. The MLAs have challenged the BJP and Congress, both seeking the resignation of CM Arvind Kejriwal on the issue, to prove that they even accepted negligible benefits as parliamentary secretaries.

AAP accused the central government for "selectively targeting the party under a political vendetta" with Rai saying that the "EC did not take any action on complaints filed in past against the parliamentary secretaries appointed by Congress and BJP governments in other states even though they received fat paychecks, government accomodation and vehicles, among other perks."

An AAP functionary claimed that the governments in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhatisgarh and some other states have appointed parliamentary secretaries who are receiving various perks and pecuniary benefits.

Meanwhile AAP has decided to launch a campaign against the union cabinet's decision to allow 100% FDI in retail and the ongoing sealing exercise in Delhi. It could be part of the party's strategy to prepare the political grounds in the wake of the possibility of bye-polls. Many of the 20 AAP MLAs have said that they are ready for the bye-polls.