AAP shocker: Kumar Vishwas openly criticises Arvind Kejriwal, praises PM Narendra Modi

New Delhi, September 9: In a huge embarrassment, the senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kumar Vishwas on Tuesday, openly criticised the party founder Arvind Kejriwal and praised the BJP government.

While talking to a news channel, Kumar Vishwas, for the first time, praised PM Narendra Modi.

'Nothing wrong in attending Modi's birthday'

He also revealed that he has been invited to perform at an event in Gujarat on the ocassion of Modi's birthday on September 17, although he didn't confirm whether he will attend that programme or not.

But on being asked that he is not only a poet, but a politician as well, then too, Vishwas didn't refrain himself from showering the praise on Modi as the prime minister.

He went on to say that "If PM does well, I have the right to praise him. Modi is comparatively better PM than Manmohan Singh."

"Like during the J&K floods, Home Minister went there, then the next day, the Prime Minister went there. This has sent a message that the Prime Minister is ours," he said.

Asked whether he finds Modi proactive, Vishwas said, "Yes definitely, the Modi government has come out of the policy paralysis of the previous government and doing a few things, but when it comes to delivering on promises like bringing back black money that has not happened..."

He said that if he praised Modi's visit to Japan in a tweet, he also criticised the alleged "hate" remarks made by Yogi Adityanath the same day in another tweet.

He also said that if the Modi-led dispensation fails to deliver its promise, then "we will do the same against this government what we did against the Congress government at Ramlila Maidan and Jantar Mantar".

On reports that he was going to an event in Surat to commemorate PM's birthday, he said he has been participating in that event for years and does not find it strange to participate at an event honouring his "political rival".

"I don't understand political rivalry. Modi is the Prime Minister of the country. He is standing on one end of politics and we on another. Today, if he is PM, then he is my PM, even if I have not voted for him. If he governs well, I will praise him and if he doesn't, I will criticise him."

But, apart from BJP praise, the major and unexpected shock came when Kumar Vishwas slammed his own party- AAP, on a national Television.

Vishwas's comments leaves AAP 'shocked'

"The party can expel me if it sees any wrong in attending the prime minister's birthday function," Vishwas said in a TV interview.

On quitting Delhi government, Kumar Vishwas said, "not many discussions were held within the party. It was his (Kejriwal's) call that if we cannot pass the Janlokpal Bill despite being in power, then it's dishonesty."

He said he will praise Modi if he does good and criticise his own party if it does anything wrong.

The poet-turned-politician said that he fears AAP turning into a "typical political party". "The day it becomes a typical political party (god forbid), I will quit politics," he said in an interview.

On a question whether he will ever join BJP, he said, "I may come out of AAP but will not join BJP." Asked about incidents, which he did not like personally, he said, "What was the need to throw stones at the BJP headquarters if your leader was attacked there (Gujarat). Whoever took that decision was wrong and whoever went there was wrong."

AAP members react

Meanwhile, after Kumar Vishwas's U-turn statements on his party, the reaction poured in from BJP, Congress and AAP members.

AAP leader Ashutosh, while downplaying the Kumar's statemnet said, "He has right to be critical."

Former AAP member Shazia Ilmi said, "This indeed is a huge embarrassment for AAP and for Arvind Kejriwal, because Vishwas is a close friend of Kejriwal as well as a key member of the party."

AAP rebel Vinod Kumar Binny, who left AAP after levelling a series of allegations appreciated Kumar Vishwas for praising BJP and congratulated him.

All is not within AAP: BJP

The Delhi BJP President Satish Upadhyay said, "All is not well within the AAP. Their house is not in the order. It's good that Vishwas praised Modiji."

"If he has made such a statement, then he may be planning to join BJP", former Justice Santosh Hegde said.

AAP seems to be a party of BJP: Congress

Congress too reacted sharply saying, "AAP seems to be a party of BJP. Vishwas is sending clear overtures and is clear to join BJP."

Kumar Vishwas's unexpected praise for the BJP comes just a day after Arvind Kejriwal released an explosive tape, showing a BJP member Sher Singh Dagar offering Rs 4 crore bribe to an AAP MLA, in a string operation, ahead of the upcoming Delhi polls.

I strongly register my protest to the twist given to Kumar's interview.

— ashutosh (@ashutosh83B) September 9, 2014

Kumar Vishwas is integral part of AAP leadership and will remain. Sorry saw interview, but no news though Times Now tried his level best.

— ashutosh (@ashutosh83B) September 9, 2014

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