Lok Sabha MP Bhagwant Mann on Friday resigned as Punjab chief of the Aam Aadmi Party, a day after Arvind Kejriwal apologised to a state leader for once accusing him of involvement in drug trade.
Announcing his resignation on Twitter, Mann said he would continue his fight against the drug mafia and corruption in Punjab. Another state leader of Aam Aadmi Party, Sukhpal Khaira, has said he and the party was “appalled and stunned” by Kejriwal’s apology, The Indian Express reported.
“We do not hesitate to admit that we have not been consulted on this meek surrender by a leader of Kejriwal’s stature,” Khaira said, adding that the party’s senior leaders would call a special meeting in Chandigarh on Friday. “We promise to continue our tirade on the burning issue of drugs destroying the youth of Punjab.”
On Thursday, Kejriwal had apologised to Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia, saying his allegations that he was involved in the drug trade in Punjab were “unfounded”. The Delhi chief minister made the apology in a letter furnished in a court. Majithia had filed a criminal defamation case against him.
Majithia said it was a historic moment for him personally as it was rare that an incumbent “chief minister apologised for remarks that he had made”.
The Aam Aadmi Party will apologise to several people after facing 20 defamation cases in court, party spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj told NDTV.
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