AAP PAC to decide fate of dissident leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan

The Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is meeting today to decide the fate of rebel leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan and their supporters.

According to reports, the PAC is expected to refer the cases of Yadav and Bhushan to the AAP disciplinary committee of its Delhi unit after the duo organised a Swaraj Samvad convention at Gurgaon on April 14 and announced a new group called ‘Swaraj Abhiyan’.

Both also lashed out at the current AAP leadership, questioning its inner party democracy and lack of transparency. The AAP is also expected to crack the whip on Anand Kumar and Ajit Jha.Meanwhile, speaking to ANI, Yogendra Yadav said, “They (party leadership) are absolutely correct to say that ‘Swaraj Samwad’ was not organised by AAP, but that does not make it illegal & anti-party. It’s party’s leadership’s prerogative to take decision. I believe they will first read AAP’s constitution before taking action.”

He further added, “Today will finalize the plan of action and will work out as to how to take this Swaraj Abhiyan forward.”

A day ago, the rebel duo of Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav today launched a scathing attack on AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and his coterie saying “some people have hijacked the party”.

Addressing volunteers at a meeting, Bhushan said there were three options left before them, of which one was to free the party from the “clutches of this coterie”, the second to form a new party and the third to start a movement.

“If a new party has to be built, then we should not make the same mistake. My personal belief is there are several issues which are plaguing the country. Communalism, environment, developmental model of the country…there should be debate, discussion. There should be a movement. If we achieve that then we can make it into a political party,” he said.

Taking a jibe at Kejriwal, Bhushan said those who talk of Swaraj, don’t practise or believe in it.

On the party leadership’s warning against those attending the meet, the activist-lawyer said, “Those who raised questions were expelled from top party posts. Today I heard that we may be expelled for organising this convention. The message from the top is if you raise voice against the party you will be expelled.”

Bhusan said he was not in favour of taking a legal recourse against his and Yadav’s expulsion as it would only turn out to be “long messy fight” for symbol and money.

“Volunteers are soul of the party, which should be preserved,” he said.