Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party says sting on its members shown by the website mediasarkar is fake
Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party today asked the Election Commission to investigate within 48 hours an alleged sting operation against some of its key leaders, and offered to withdraw any candidate found guilty of wrongdoing from the December 4 Delhi election.
The party said it would file a defamation suit against the website that showed the sting operation in a press conference on Thursday, as well as news channels that had aired it.
The AAP also urged the poll panel to stop the circulation of the sting CD, which allegedly shows some AAP candidates agreeing to help push property deals and resolve financial disputes in return for cash donations to the party. The website, mediasarkar, submitted the footage to the Election Commission today.
The AAP says the CD has edited conversations and raw footage would prove it. "It is clear that conversations on the tape are abruptly cut and portions edited out to make it seem damaging against our members," said AAP's Yogendra Yadav.
"This is not a Bigg Boss episode that you can edit and only show some footage as you want," added Sanjay Singh, another member.
One of those targeted by the sting is AAP's high-profile candidate from RK Puram, Shazia Ilmi, a former journalist and vocal activist, who has offered to pull out of the poll contest.
The AAP blamed the sting and other controversies linked to them this week on rival parties, not naming either the Congress or the BJP.
"Every day there are allegations against us. You know what is happening," said AAP leader Prashant Bhushan.
This week, Arvind Kejriwal also fought allegations of misusing the money raised for the anti-corruption campaign fronted by Anna Hazare two years ago. Videos released to TV channels showed Anna worrying about the money being misused.
The mediasarkar website said it was "standard response" after any sting operation to call the tapes doctored. "If AAP wants to ask questions legally, they can," said the website's Anuranjan Jha.