AAP sting op: Shazia faces trust crisis

New Delhi: Being a woman and a Muslim, Shazia Ilmi had almost changed the political norm by emerging as a strong contender in R.K. Puram constituency as candidate of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for next month’s Assembly poll.

The South Delhi constituency — a mix of elite and upper-middle class areas, government quarters and slum clusters and villages — has only about 4.5 per cent Muslim electorate. Working in the area for almost six months now, Ms Ilmi had managed to win over voters. However, following the sting operation that showed her allegedly agreeing to accept cash illegally as donation, she now faces a serious credibility crisis.

Stung AAP to file defamation case

Stung by a slew of sting operations, the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP refused to withdraw candidates caught on tape from the elections. The AAP claimed it was a victim of a conspiracy and stated that it would file defamation cases against those who conducted the sting operations. It maintained that the CD showing party leaders in poor light had been doctored and that the web portal had refused to provide them the unedited version.

“If the EC finds any wrongdoing on the part of the party candidates, we will drop them,” said AAP leader Yogender Yadav.

The portal ‘Media Sarkar’ had caught AAP leader Shazia Ilmi purportedly agreeing to take cash without a receipt, allegedly for attending a dharna to malign a corporate rival. Its CEO Anuranjan Jha said the sting operation was authentic and he was prepared to counter any legal action. He said he wouldn’t provide the AAP raw footage of the sting operation but asked mediapersons to visit his office and watch the raw footage.

The portal, which had also caught AAP leader Kumar Vishwas on tape, has, however, submitted the raw footage to the EC.

“After going through the CD, we have found lapses at many places,” Yadav said.

The AAP also stated it would lodge complaints against the news channels for showing the sting operation without verifying the authenticity of the CD.

Next: Can’t trust any party, say voters

Can’t trust any party, say voters

 
New Delhi: Voters in South Delhi constituency are now skeptical about trusting political parties after a sting operation by a web portal showed Shazia Ilmi of the AAP allegedly agreeing to accept cash illegally.

“The CD (sting) is quite shocking. May be it’s fabricated, but doesn’t seem so. Now it’s clear that one can’t trust any party,” said Geetika Anand of Satya Niketan.

Raees from Mohammadpur, says, “Barkha (sitting Congress MLA) has only beautified elite areas. Shazia seems to be serious about providing relief to us. But when she isn’t serious about AAP’s motto of anti-corruption, we are not sure about her,” said.

AAP not to withdraw candidates

New Delhi: Refuting the claim of Aam Admi Party (AAP) that the sting operation conducted by web portal Media Sarkar was not authentic, Media Sarkar CEO Anuranjan Jha said the operation was authentic and he was prepared to counter any legal action.

Jha said he would not provide AAP the raw footage of the sting operation but asked media persons to visit his office and watch the raw footage.

The portal has, however, submitted the raw footage to the EC. The AAP in a counter-offensive stated the party would file a case of “criminal defamation” against them for maligning the image of its candidates. The portal had also caught prominent AAP leader Kumar Vishwas on tape and had claimed that they were involved in raising funds by illegal means.

Speaking to reporters, AAP?leader Yogendra Yadav said: “After going through the CD several times, we have found lapses at many places which could only be verified by viewing the unedited footage. If we take any action without going through the unedited CD, it would be against natural justice. So we have decided not to withdraw any candidates.”

During the press meet, Yadav was accompanied by the candidates who were caught on tape. AAP leaders Sanjay Singh, Manish Sisodia, Prashant Bhushan, Shazia Ilmi and Pankaj Gupta maintained the party would file a case of criminal defamation against the portal.

The AAP also stated it would lodge complaints against the news channels with the News Broadcasters’ Association (NBA) and Press Council of India (PCI) for showing the sting operation without verifying the authenticity of the CD.

Claiming that the telecast of the sting operation was a violation of the Model Code of Conduct, the AAP called upon the poll panel to undertake an immediate investigation into the contents of the CD to find out if the voice-overs falsely and maliciously project the party and its candidates.