Himalaya Harbinger, National Bureau.
Delhi’s political landscape witnessed a seismic shift as Raaj Kumar Anand, the social welfare minister of Delhi, tendered his resignation from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) cabinet and membership. Anand’s decision, announced at a press conference on Wednesday, marked a significant blow to AAP’s integrity, amidst escalating allegations of corruption within the party’s upper echelons.
Anand, a stalwart who had been associated with AAP since its inception, lamented the party’s deviation from its founding principles of anti-corruption. He stated, “I am very pained today. I came into politics when Arvind Kejriwal said that politics will change and the country will change. But today I am saying with regret that the politics did not change, the politician changed. AAP was born against corruption, but today this party is trapped in corruption.”
The resignation follows the recent arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia over alleged irregularities in the 2021-22 excise policy. Anand’s departure underscores the deepening crisis within AAP, with key leaders embroiled in legal battles and facing accusations of malfeasance.
Linking Anand’s unexpected move to pressure from federal agencies, AAP leader Sanjay Singh remarked, “This proves that the BJP’s target is to break AAP. Raaj Kumar Anand was raided by the ED and all BJP leaders called him corrupt.”
Anand’s decision to resign was further precipitated by the Enforcement Directorate’s raids on 12 premises, including his residence in the Civil Lines area, in November of the previous year. The raids were part of a money laundering probe based on allegations of customs evasion exceeding ₹7 crore, stemming from false declarations in the import of certain items.
In his official statement, Anand expressed his inability to continue serving amidst mounting allegations, stating, “It has become difficult for me to hold the office of the minister and work in this government. I am resigning from the minister and the party’s membership because I do not want to get my name included in the corrupt practices. I do not believe that we have the moral power to govern anymore.”
The sequence of events leading to Anand’s resignation from AAP culminated with the Delhi High Court’s rejection of Arvind Kejriwal’s petition for release from jail. The court affirmed the Enforcement Directorate’s evidence implicating Kejriwal in money laundering related to the excise policy case, further exacerbating AAP’s woes.
Anand, who assumed office as minister in November 2022, succeeded Rajendra Pal Gautam, who resigned amidst controversy over his participation in a religious conversion event. Despite his departure from AAP, Anand affirmed his decision not to align with any other political party.
While severing ties with AAP, Anand launched scathing criticisms against the party’s treatment of Dalit leaders, highlighting a lack of representation and respect within its upper ranks. He stated, “I joined AAP and Arvind Kejriwal to pay back to society. They talked about walking the path shown by Bhim Rao Ambedkar. There is no respect for Dalit leaders in AAP.”
Raaj Kumar Anand’s political journey, beginning with his involvement in the anti-corruption movement of 2011, culminated in his disillusionment with AAP’s trajectory. His decision to exit the party underscores the challenges facing AAP amid accusations of corruption and internal discord.
