Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Yogendra Yadav on Saturday downplayed his party colleague Mayank Gandhi's observation that a concerted attempt is being made through social media to describe him as anti-party and anti-Arvind Kejriwal, saying his party would not re-enact what is done in other parties.
"I have been listening to the news from Rajasthan, I have been reading about Mayank bhai's blogs. I don't want to comment on it. There is a party discipline about what is to be discussed in public and what is not to be discussed. I would rather confine myself to the party discipline," Yadav told ANI.
"These are unfortunate incidents but I am still confident that in this party we would not re-enact what is done in other parties. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is different and sooner or later we would demonstrate that we are different," he added.
In a second blog published after the March 4 meeting of the AAP's national executive, senior 'dissident volunteer' Mayank Gandhi has said that a concerted attempt is being made through the social media to describe him as anti-party and anti-Arvind Kejriwal.
Reiterating his demand for the publication of the minutes of the March 4 meeting of the national executive in the interest of the AAP's espoused principles of nation first, party next and individuals last, Gandhi said, "A small group of party decision makers in Delhi have already removed me from the informal BBM group. Attacks have begun against me from Ashish Khetan and others. Some dissatisfied members from Maharashtra have started giving interviews against me, some old cases are being re-opened. A concerted attempt is being made in social media to call me anti-party and anti-AK."
Warning that he would be going ahead with his plans to seek the support of as many AAP volunteers as possible to strengthen the party and the principles that it has espoused, Gandhi said that the 'party is only a vehicle to serve the nation ; and individuals merely tools'.
"The blogs are an exhortation to our volunteers, supporters and donors, not to disengage nor become negative, but to engage more with the party and force the leaders to truly build AAP into a party of our dreams :a model party based on principles of participation, accountability, transparency, decentralization and integrity. A party that will force other political parties to follow our example and improve governance and political activity in the nation. AAP volunteers need to demonstrate how we are the real owners of the party and bring back the founding principles into the party," he stated further.
Maintaining that thousands from all over the world were waiting - some crying, some sleepless and most worried, over what was happening within the rank and file of the AAP, Gandhi said his blogs were not against any individual nor should be seen as a challenge to the party's leadership but as a campaign to restore principles of transparency, participation, accountability and freedom from arrogance, projected and promoted in the recent past by Arvind Kejriwal.
"I am hoping that the minutes of the 4th March NE meeting is published soon. In my blog, I have given some glimpses of the happenings in the NE meeting, but the complete minutes should be in the public domain. My description could have some shortcomings and may contain some probable bias, but the minutes will be authentic record. The volunteers should request for the same. This will strengthen the party and volunteers will become privy to the decisions taken," he said, adding that it was a well thought out and conscious decision to write the blogs to uphold the higher principles of transparency.
He also that there could be a price to pay for mounting this challenge of sorts against the present AAP leadership.
He anticipated that he could be humiliated and forced to quit the AAP, just as was planned for Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan.
"Let me see if I can withstand the muck that will be thrown. But, my being in the party or not is immaterial, if by then, I am able to bring in some changes in the functioning of the party and empowered the volunteers," he said in his blog.
"Friends, it is time to participate in the party functioning in the best tradition of Swaraj. It should be non-confrontational, graceful, respectful to the leadership and constructive. We are all learning. Let me reiterate, this is not any rebellion, nor against our leadership, nor to seek personal attention. I truly believe that AK is the hope for the country and I have learnt almost everything from him. I will continue to avoid going to the press," Gandhi said.
