While talking to volunteers, Kumar Vishwas insisted on the need to restore key values that shaped the Aam Aadm... Read More

NEW DELHI: Kumar Vishwas , one of the founding members of the Aam Aadmi Party , on Sunday called for creating a “version 2” of the party by reuniting with those who had left the outfit. Speaking to the media after meeting voluntrs at the party headquarters, Vishwas said he was determined to get rid of “viruses damaging AAP” and claimed he didn’t fear death in doing so.

The senior party functionary, who is in charge of the Rajasthan unit, insisted on restoring key values that shaped AAP in 2012, adding that he didn’t intend to form a new party but create a “reformed” outfit by going back to the basics. A group within AAP had damaged the party, he alleged, and “this virus” had forced it to deviate from its mission.

According to an agency report, Vishwas also claimed that the party was holding dialogue with Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav to facilitate their return to the party. The remarks, however, were refuted by a party leader close to chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. Swaraj India, a political party formed by Yadav and Bhushan, too dismissed Vishwas’ claims.

While no other senior leader of the party attended the event, Vishwas claimed to have met 40 groups drawn from assembly constituencies of Delhi and other states. He also alleged a conspiracy to thwart his entry into Rajya Sabha in early 2018. “I believe the decision should be taken after consulting volunteers,” he said. Vishwas claimed that many volunteers complained to him about a growing disconnect with party functionaries. The attacks on him, Vishwas said, had grown after his announcement at Ramlila Maidan to bring back disgruntled volunteers back to party fold.

During the interaction, there appeared to be a strong consensus among volunteers on bringing back people who had left AAP over the years. One of them, Kuldeep Chawla from Faridabad, said: “We will not allow Kejriwal and Vishwas to separate.” Vishwas struck a chord with the gathering by immediately calling up a couple of MLAs against whom the volunteers had come with complaints. He claimed to have interacted with about 40 separate groups and used the room currently occupied by AAP’s Delhi convener Gopal Rai.

While one volunteer alleged that anyone who dared to complain against MLAs invited their wrath, another claimed that partymen didn’t support them in raising their voice against corruption.

Vishwas, meanwhile, clarified his alleged remarks on Bhim Rao Ambedkar that had stirred a controversy. “I did not make any comment on Ambedkar for whom I have the highest regard. As part of a conspiracy, my comments were twisted and presented in a way to show that I was speaking against Ambedkar. I want to apologise if anybody is hurt but I urge everyone to understand the conspiracy,” Vishwas said .

