New Delhi: AAP national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday dubbed former Maharashtra Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse a "traitor" for his alleged conversation with Dawood Ibrahim, while coming out in support of Patidar leader Hardik Patel, who is lodged in jail over alleged seditions charges.
Kejriwal, whose party is trying to get a foothold in BJP ruled Gujarat, said Patel has been charged with sedition even when he has not done anything against the country, but on the other hand alleged call records show that Dawood Ibrahim, one of India's most wanted criminals working against the nation, made calls to Khadse.
Khadse was in the eye of a storm over allegations of corruption including irregularities in a land deal resigned on Saturday.
The AAP also alleged that he received calls from Ibrahim, a charge which was not only refuted by Khadse, but also by the Mumbai Police which gave him a clean chit.
Kejriwal said the real test for the BJP will be if Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan chief ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Vasundhara Raje also resign.
"Now there is a minister from Maharashtra (Eknath) Khadse sahab. Through (call) records, his talks with Dawood Ibrahim, who works against the country, have come to light. Then Khadse is a traitor and not Hardik Patel.
"The government does not take action against Khadse sahab. It takes action against Hardik Patel. How is Hardik Patel a traitor? Traitors are leaders like Khadse," Kejriwal said in a video posted on Aam Aadmi Party's twitter handle.
Kejriwal said one may not agree with Patel or have difference of opinion, but he has not acted against the country. The AAP chief said people of Gujarat are angry and upset over the sedition charges slapped on the Patidar leader, who is in jail since October last year.
The AAP chief said terming Patel a traitor is like terming lakhs of Gujaratis traitor.
"What is Hardik Patel's mistake? He raised his voice for Gujaratis and his community, he struggled for their rights. He never raised voice against India. He never supported forces trying to break the country," the Delhi Chief Minister said.
"Lakhs of Gujaratis were saying what Hardik Patel is saying. Then have lakhs of Gujaratis become traitors? So, terming Gujaratis traitors, insult Gujaratis is not good. This is wrong," Kejriwal said.
