AAP backs Bharti, to wait for judicial inquiry before action on him

New Delhi: Brushing aside criticism and mounting demands for his removal, Aam Aadmi Party tonight backed controversial Law Minister Somnath Bharti in the midnight raid episode and decided to await the findings of the judicial inquiry before any action can be taken against him. However, the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the party chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal disapproved of the language used by Bharti against senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley and noted lawyer Harish Salve and asked him not to use foul language in public discourse. [caption id=“attachment_1356161” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Somnath Bharti. Image: Facebook[/caption] The meeting took place against the backdrop of growing demands for the sacking of Bharti after an Ugandan woman identified Bharti as the one who led a group of AAP workers inattacking their house and misbehaving with them on the pretext of a raid on an alleged drug and prostitution ring in South Delhi last week. “The party has not found any evidence against Bharti on three counts. First he did not do anything which was unbecoming of a minister. The preliminary probe by the party has not found him misbehaving or assaulting Ugandan women. He was also not found using any racial slur,” party leader Yogendra Yadav told reporters here. The senior AAP leader said appropriate action will be taken against Bharti if the judicial probe finds him guilty of any wrongdoing. Yadav said the party felt that drug and prostitution rackets are being run for a long time in the Khirki Extension area of South Delhi and it was a “serious problem” being faced by the residents in the area. “Several complaints have been lodged with the police, but even after that no action was taken. Bharti did no wrong and in fact he should lauded for his efforts to address people’s grivances,” Yadav said. Earlier in the day, Kejriwal had a meeting with Lt Governor Najeeb Jung. But when asked whether the Bharti issue figured in the meeting, he answered in the negative and said it was a routine meeting. A Congress delegation also met Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and asked him to direct the police to take immediate action against the minister as he was “not above law of the land”. “Delhi Police is not probing the case thoroughly. We have demanded that the Lt Governor direct Delhi Police to proceed as per law in this case. The Law Minister is not above the law. Whatever legal action is to be taken, should be taken,” DPCC Chief Arvinder Singh Lovely said after the meeting. Three foreign women have till date recorded their statements before a magistrate, in which they have stated that Bharti, the MLA from Malviya Nagar, had barged into their house along with his supporters on the intervening night of January 15-16, according to court sources. Delhi police has already registered a case on January 19 against unknown persons on a plea. Stepping up pressure on AAP, a delegation of Delhi BJP led by its president Vijay Goel met Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi and demanded immediate action against Bharti. “The BJP will not relent till Bharti is sacked,” Goel said. The party said law should prevail and proceedings against him for his “misdemeanour” should reach their logical conclusion. It also alleged “match fixing between Congress and AAP to somehow stop Narendra Modi”. A number of women’s rights activists have also demanded action against the minister saying he had violated laws relating to women. The Delhi Commission for Women has summoned Bharti to depose before it tomorrow. DCW sources said if the Minister did not turn up then it will take up the matter with the Lt Governor. Lovely said the Congress delegation also took up the issue of violation of Section 144 of CrPC by the Delhi Chief Minister by staging a two-day protest outside the Rail Bhavan in Raisina Hills area. Asked why Congress was not withdrawing support from AAP government if the party thinks that Bharti was at fault, Lovely said that Congress gave outside support to AAP on 18 issues related to public welfare. “If AAP government doesn’t work on these issues, then we would definitely consider withdrawing support,” Lovely said. The BJP delegation that met Bassi also sought action 0against Kejriwal for staging the dharna flouting prohibitory orders. “Kejriwal violated section 144 of IPC during his dharna outside Rail Bhawan for two days and yet he has not been named in an FIR and no action has been initiated against him. The law must take its course,” said Goel. PTI