Medha resigns from AAP

Mumbai: Medha Patkar, social activist, resigned from the Aam Aadmi Party on Saturday, condemning the “insult and unfair treatment” meted out to its founder members Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan.

She described the manner of their removal from the party’s national executive as “unfortunate,” “sad” and “disappointing”, and question-ed the party’s “undemocratic” way of functioning.

Ms. Patkar said she had no reason left to stay in the party after the developments in New Delhi, and held that the AAP was behaving just like other national parties.

“We expect that crucial decisions would be taken after discussions. But the way in which Mr. Yadav and Mr. Bhushan were insulted is something I strongly condemn. I believe there was also some jostling and pushing around … some volunteers were not allowed inside ... this is very sad,” Ms. Patkar said.

Medha backs Yadav and Bhushan

Terming the contribution of Mr. Yadav and Mr. Bhushan to the party and its ideology as vast, Ms. Patkar defended the two leaders, recalling their participation in people’s movement and the campaign against corruption.

“I have not known of any instance in which they have been involved in anti-party activities. In fact, these leaders have led the way for the party’s ideology and manifesto,” she told presspersons in her office in Mumbai.

The founding member of the Narmada Bachao Andolan and veteran of many mass movements, Ms. Patkar lamented that though the AAP had secured the mandate in Delhi on two occasions, the party had failed to emerge as the flag-bearer of alternative politics at the national level.

She, however, refrained from targeting Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal or his team personally. “I don’t want to make any allegations. We don’t want to wash our dirty linen in public,” she said hoping that Mr. Kejriwal would still “sit and resolve his differences” with other senior members of the party in a democratic manner.

“I still hope that he holds discussions with those with whom he has differences and keeps doing the work he has got the mandate for,” she said.

Commenting on a “sting tape” in which Mr. Kejriwal is heard allegedly abusing Mr. Yadav and Mr. Bhushan, she said its authenticity needed to be verified, but “if it is true it is unfortunate and wrong.” “I would like to hope that Mr. Kejriwal did not use such language,” she said. Ms. Patkar said she did not regret joining the party. She had never accepted any post.