Sting operation a handiwork of a big party: AAP leader

An embarrassment for the Aam Aadmi Party just ahead of the Delhi Assembly polls as a sting operation showed top leaders including Shazia Ilmi ready to accept funds without proper background checks. AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal has promised action within 24 hours.

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Shazia Ilmi defended herself by saying, "The cut and paste job is my best defence and I have mentioned receipts. The credibility of the CD has to be talked about, but these are the dark forces that don't allow good things. I think it is the handiwork of either of the big parties."
Just 12 days ahead of the Delhi elections, a sting operation released by journalist Anuranjan Jha showed some prominent faces of the AAP allegedly agreeing to accept cash for improper purposes. After the sting operation, there were more questions than answers; Anuranjan Jha said, "We are not saying that there is any criminality involved."
The party has swung into action with the PAC members calling all the candidates who featured in the CD to the party office. Kejriwal was also present in the meeting. Within hours the party decided to further investigate the matter and even remove candidates if any of them were found guilty. The party has also asked for the unedited tapes from Anuranjan Jha.
Party leader Yogendra Yadav said, "Political affair committee, the highest body within the party, will investigate the matter and take decision in the next 24 hours. These tapes are edited. We want to see the unedited tapes. We will take action after that."
This new sting CD was released a few days after an 11-month-old CD surfaced which allegedly showed Anna Hazare having doubts about the possible misuse of funds. Kejriwal had asked for an impartial investigation in an open platform and had said if found guilty he would not contest for the Delhi elections. But if there is no evidence of guilt, Kejriwal said, Anna Hazare should support the party.
Kejriwal said, "Yes I am hurt. Anna is my guru. I have earned nothing except honesty."
Though the AAP feels that such attacks are motivated, Shazia Ilmi has already offered to resign. Shazia said, "I have offered to resign because I do not want the party to be in a difficult spot."
This is the second such CD that has surfaced in the past few days and the party expects more such CDs to surface. It is an election season and the party wants to send a signal that it is serious about allegations and to be seen as acting on them.