AAP leader to file defamation suit, calls charges by MLA 'baseless'

New Delhi, Sep 5: AAP leader Sanjay Singh on Monday vowed to file a defamation case against a party MLA who accused him of "exploiting" women by promising a ticket to contest the Punjab assembly polls.

"The charges levelled by (Col. Devinder) Sehrawat against me are baseless and malicious. I will file a defamation case against Sehrawat for spoiling my image," Sanjay Singh told the media here.

He said the allegation was a conspiracy by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Akali Dal against him and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in a bid to derail its campaign in Punjab.

"The BJP and Akalis are rattled by the AAP's success in Punjab as they know we are getting over 100 seats there. The Delhi MLA is being used to defame me and the party," he added.

In a letter to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Sehrawat on Sunday said: "I saw disturbing reports about women being exploited in Punjab in return for ticket. The MLAs of Delhi are unaware about what is being done by party representatives in Punjab.

"Now the situation is getting indefensible and disgraceful. Action needs to be taken to remove rotten elements."

"I have written the two letters with full responsibility. I stand by it and will follow it up to finality," Sehrawat responded on Monday.

AAP has emerged as a major player in Punjab, where elections are due early next year.

Singh further said that Sehrawat fought three elections on AAP's ticket and won in the third attempt. He (Sehrawat) -- if he has any morality left -- should tell people what favours he did to the party to get three tickets.

"Sehrawat's allegations are an embarrassment to the daughters and people of Punjab. Such allegations reflect the height of the fall of values in politics," Singh, who is the party's incharge for Punjab, said.

He stressed that several charges were levelled against him in the past four years but he has "come out clean" from every allegation.

"I will retire from politics and political life if Sehrawat's allegations against me are proved true," Singh announced.

On Sehrawat's fate in the party Singh said that a decision would be taken after AAP's national convenor Kejriwal's return from Vatican City.

Kejriwal along with party leaders Kumar Vishwas and Satyendar Jain has gone to Vatican City for Mother Teresa's canonisation ceremony where she was conferred sainthood on Sunday.

IANS