Sacked SP leader Kamal Faruqui to join AAP?

New Delhi, Dec 29: Kamal Faruqui, the sacked national secretary of the

(SP) may join Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Faruqui met for an hour with AAP founder and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at his residence in Kaushambhi near Ghaziabad, UP on Sundayand expressed a desire to join the AAP , party sources said.

AAP core committee member, Sanjay Singh was also present in the meeting between Faruqui and Kejriwal.

AAP sources quoted Kejriwal as telling Faruqui that he will discuss the matter with his party colleagues and take a decision.

Emerging from the meeting, Faruqui said, "There is a pro-AAP wave in the country. I had a long chat with Kejriwal but he is not well."

Asked if he wanted to join the AAP, Faruqui replied: "The whole country wants to join the AAP. I am sure you also want to join the AAP."

AAP leader Sanjay Singh told a news agency that Kejriwal had told Faruqui that the party "will first make sure that Faruqui doesn't have any criminal or corruption charges against him".

Sanjay Singh, however, quickly added that Faruqui was a leader of high calibre and his presence in the AAP would definitely help the party.

"But it is very important to make sure that he does not have any criminal or corruption charges against him," he said.

Faruqui was ousted from SP in September this year after he raised question on the arrest of Indian Mujahideen (IM) co-founder Mohammed Ahmed Sidibapa alias Yasin Bhatkal.

Faruqui was ousted from SP over controversial remarks on arrest of Yasin Bhatkal

He had told a news channel, "Is this arrest based on crime or religion? If he is a terrorist, then he should not be spared but if he has been arrested just because he is a Muslim, then caution should be exercised as we don't want to send a wrong message to the entire community."

He also said that the police should ascertain whether the arrest is based on the grounds of crime or religion.

In December, Ram Gopal Yadav, SP National General Secretary had asked TV channels not to use the party's name while inviting Faruqui for debates.

OneIndia News

(With IANS inputs)