New Delhi: Delhi’s Social Welfare Minister, Raaj Kumar Anand, announced his resignation from both his ministerial position and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday, citing allegations of corruption within the party. In a press conference addressing his decision, Anand expressed his unwillingness to be associated with any corrupt practices.
While addressing the press conference Anand said, “I am a minister in Delhi government, I have seven departments. Today I am very sad, so I have come to share my sorrow. I came into politics when Arvind Kejriwal had said that ‘Rajniti badlegi toh desh badlega'(if politics changes, the country will change). ‘Rajniti toh nahi badli, lekin rajneta badal gaye’ (But sadly today politics has not changed, but politicians have changed.”
“Aam Aadmi Party was born out of a movement against corruption but today this party itself have fallen into a swamp of corruption. For me, continuing to serve this government as a minister is putting me in an uncomfortable position. So I am resigning from this party, my ministerial position thereby this government because I do not wish to link my name with corrupts. I don’t think we have any moral strength left to govern,” he added.
He further alleged that acting on Ambedkar’s ideals is just ‘talk’ and that the Dalit MLAs and ministers in the party are not respected.
“Baba Saheb Ambedkar had given the mantra of Pay Back to Society, because of that, despite being a businessman, I first joined an NGO, then became a public representative and then a minister so that I could serve the people. I came to give something to the society from my side. That is why I stood with Aam Aadmi Party and Arvind Kejriwal, who talk about following Baba Saheb’s ideals, put Baba Saheb’s photo in every press conference and every government office, but there is only talk,” he said.
He questioned the alleged neglect of individuals from Dalit or backward class communities or women among the 13 Rajya Sabha MPs selected from the Aam Aadmi Party.
“Reservation is a constitutional compulsion, but when it comes to representation, when the Dalit community talks about sending its people. There are 13 Rajya Sabha MPs from the Aam Aadmi Party, but not a single one of them is a Dalit or a backward class or a woman,” he said.
Anand faced raids by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) earlier in November last year in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam. Reportedly, around nine premises linked to Anand including his official residence were raided by the ED.
Anand was elected to the Delhi assembly in 2020 and he represents Patel Nagar assembly constituency. He holds multiple portfolios in the Kejriwal cabinet including Social Welfare, SC and ST, Gurudwara elections, and Registrar of Cooperative Societies.
(With ANI Inputs)
