Delhi Social Welfare Minister Raaj Kumar Anand has resigned from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s Cabinet and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), alleging the party’s deep involvement in corruption. He referenced the arrests of AAP leaders, including Kejriwal, in the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy scam, stating, “I have handled seven portfolios as a minister in the Delhi government. The AAP, born after a fight against corruption, is now deeply entrenched in it.”
“It has become difficult to remain in this party. So I am resigning. I don’t want my name associated with this corruption,” he added.
The minister also criticized the AAP for neglecting Dalit representation, saying, “I don’t want to be part of a party that takes a backseat when Dalit representation is discussed. I am not joining any party,” he clarified. Anand submitted his resignation to AAP General Secretary Sandeep Pathak.
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AAP leader Sanjay Singh alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was behind Anand’s decision. “BJP is using central agencies such as Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ‘break’ our ministers and MLAs. It’s a test for AAP ministers and MLAs,” he claimed.
“Anand was earlier labeled corrupt by BJP, but now he will join the same party,” he added.
Anand, an MLA from Patel Nagar, is the first Delhi minister to resign after Kejriwal’s arrest in the liquor policy case. Following the arrest of former Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia, Anand handled education, land and building, vigilance, services, tourism, art culture and language, labour, employment, health, and industries, in addition to his existing portfolios.
Anand’s house was searched by the ED in a customs-linked money laundering case in November 2023. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence filed a complaint against Anand, alleging false declarations in imports for customs evasions of over ₹7 crore.
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