The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs on Monday demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged corruption committed by Delhi LG VK Saxena. They have also demanded the resignation of Saxena. The AAP legislators held a night-long protest at the well of the Delhi State Assembly to raise their pitch.
In a counter-protest, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also staged a demonstration against the AAP MLAs on the premises of the Vidhan Sabha.
Earlier in the morning, the AAP leaders had pointed out that when Saxena was chairman of KVIC (Khadi Gramodyog), he allegedly forced his staff to convert black money into white money.
“Two cashiers — Sanjeev Kumar and Pradeep Yadav — had given statements before the internal probe committee which was conducted in 2018. But their statements were not considered despite them being key witnesses. They later got suspended by the department,” said AAP MLA Durgesh Pathak.
“In their statements, both the officers have clearly mentioned the name of the then KVIC chief VK Saxena, who asked them to convert Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes into Rs 2,000 notes at their centre,” said Pathak.
AAP leader Aatishi Marlena said: “At the difficult time of demonetization, VK Saxena had threatened his two cashiers to convert the notes from old into new. A total of Rs 22 lakh was converted at one KVIC branch.” She further said there were around 7,000 branches of KVIC across the country; it means it is a suspected scam of Rs 1,400 crore under the leadership of Saxena.
AAP national spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj announced that the party’s MLAs will hold a night-long protest at Vidhan Sabha. “Our MLAs will hold a night-long protest at the well of the House . We want a CBI probe against LG VK Saxena, ” Bhardwaj told The New Indian.
The BJP leaders, however, said the AAP’s two ministers were already facing corruption charges. That’s why they are levelling bogus charges. Leader of Opposition Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said: “Our LG has ordered probe against AAP ministers, that’s why AAP leaders are doing this. They are seeking revenge.”
Earlier, the showdown between Delhi LG and Delhi Government peaked when LG recommended a CBI probe against Deputy CM Manish Sisodia over the Delhi Excise Policy. The CBI registered a case and also conducted raids at Sisodia’s residence and office.