The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday cornered the AAP after party leader Ashutosh voiced his support for sacked Delhi minister Sandeep Kumar and wondered whether action would now be initiated against the former.
Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay, however, welcomed the AAP's move to suspend Kumar from the party.
"It means that the party has agreed to the fact that there is no moral left in Sandeep Kumar. Now, the big question is that their senior party member Ashutosh is justifying and supporting Sandeep Kumar," he told ANI
"We would like to ask Sisodia as to what he would like to say on Ashutosh. Will they (AAP) suspend Ashutosh also?" Upadhyay asked.
Meanwhile, the AAP today distanced itself from the remarks made by Ashutosh with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia stating that whatever the former said was "his own opinion".
"Whatever Sandeep Kumardid cannot be defended. And, what all Ashutosh said is his own opinion, but the entire party is clear about Sandeep's behaviour," Sisodia told ANI.
Confirming Kumar's suspension from the party's primary membership, Sisodia said, "A probe is going on against him and whatever Sandeep Kumar did is not acceptable."
On Wednesday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal decided to sack Kumar after receiving an objectionable CD, adding that the AAP stood for "propriety in public life."
Kejriwal attempted to downplay the matter by claiming that the AAP, which is the nation's biggest hope, does not spare willful wrongdoers.
Kejriwal said that he would prefer to forfeit his party but never tolerate corruption and wrongful activities, as the AAP does not believe in hiding flaws of its members.
Commenting on Kumar's 'misdeeds', Kejriwal said that his former Cabinet colleague has betrayed the party and the people of Delhi.
Defending his sacked colleague, AAP's Ashutosh had earlier in a blog said, "Indian history is full of examples of our leaders and heroes who had lived with their desires beyond social boundaries."
Ashutosh also went on to question the intentions of some television news channels that aired the footage of the alleged sex tape. He also pondered why India, as a country, never questioned "its leaders about what they do or have done in their private moments".
The sacked AAP minister had earlier on Thursday rubbished the charges against him and played the Dalit card while claiming that the video was fabricated.
"I come from a poor family. The poor are always trapped. Every time we rise, there are conspiracies to crush us. I am being targeted because I have set up a statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar in my house. I am ready for every 'agni-pariksha'," said the 34-year-old MLA, who was elected from Sultanpur Majra.
To determine the authenticity of the CD, the Delhi Police's Crime Branch has initiated an investigation.
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