Ex-AAP MLA says party still ‘torturing’ him

New Delhi: The former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA, Ved Parkash, on Thursday, alleged that he is being mentally tortured even after leaving the AAP.

Mr Parkash said that after submitting his resignation three days ago, he was called by the Speaker, Ram Niwas Goyal, in connection with his resignation. The appointment was fixed at 1 pm on Thursday.

However, Mr Parkash was not called when he went for the meeting and had to wait for one-and-a- half hour. When he was finally called after the long wait, he was mentally tortured. “So many things were said and several questions were asked, which were not at all relevant to my resignation. All these had only one point — I must reconsider my decision. Despite my persistent requests, my resignation was not accepted,” added Mr Parkash.

Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta said that AAP is committing excesses on Mr Parkash for joining BJP. “Rule 255 of Delhi Vidhan Sabha stipulates that a resignation must be accepted immediately. The Speaker can satisfy himself that there is no pressure on the member, but he cannot delay its acceptance. It is against the rule to ask a member or to force him to reconsider his decision, which was done by AAP,” added Mr Gupta.

He observed that Janakpuri MLA Rajesh Rishi on Thursday voiced the woes of the majority of the AAP MLAs by saying that they are unhappy with the way some leaders around the chief minister have monopolised AAP’s functioning.

“He (Mr Rishi) regretted that members have no say in the issue of ticket distributions for the municipal elections and advised Kejriwal to stay away from sycophants,” said Mr Gupta.