Days After Ashutosh stunned everyone with his resignation from Aam Aadmi Party, another key AAP functionary Ashish Khetan has given what is being termed as exit vibes, close on the heels of his former colleague.
Reacting to reports that he had followed the footsteps of Ashutosh to quit AAP, Khetan tweeted, “I am completely focussed on my legal practice and not involved in active politics at the moment. Rest is all extrapolation.”
I am completely focussed on my legal practice and not involved in active politics at the moment. Rest is all extrapolation. https://t.co/uAPQh8Nba3
— Ashish Khetan (@AashishKhetan) August 22, 2018
Kehtan’s tweet was in response to a journalist’s Twitter post stating that he too had left the party. In his follow-up tweet, Khetan wrote, “I had resigned from DDC in April, to join the legal profession. That is all. Not interested in rumours.”
I had resigned from DDC in April, to join the legal profession. That is all. Not interested in rumours
— Ashish Khetan (@AashishKhetan) August 22, 2018
Reacting to Ashutosh’s resignation, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said that there was no question of his party accepting his resignation. Some pundits had speculated that Ashutosh’s resignation was due to his frustration on not being sent to the Rajya Sabha by his party.
Both Ashutosh and Khetan were active journalists before they joined the Kejriwal’s party. Khetan, a former investigative journalist, has recently started his new career as a lawyer in Delhi.
Later on Wednesday, Khetan took to Facebook to issue a full statement on the rumours.
“I am a journalist who has always felt obliged to be engaged as a citizen. It was with this intent, of pursuing positive change in society, that moved me to first join politics and then the government of Delhi.
For the past two years, I have been plagued with self-doubt and the question of whether I wanted to continue in electoral politics. Early this year I made my decision to quit active politics after much deliberation and in consultation with family and close friends. However, since both the party and the government were beset with a series of crises, I waited for an opportune time to formalize my decision. I had also informed the party leadership about my decision, on more than one occasion.
Back in April, I had quit the Delhi Dialogue & Development Commission to join the Bar and establish my commercial law practice. I’ve also taken up legal causes in the larger public interest and will continue to do so. Besides practicing law, I’m also keen to return to my writing.
In July, the Supreme Court verdict gave AAP a huge shot in the arm, restoring all its powers. With this the party is only going from strength to strength.
My personal decision to move away from party and electoral politics, should not be viewed as a reflection on AAP, in any way whatsoever. I have only received love and respect from the party and its members and volunteers. And I will be forever grateful for that.
I would also like to quell the unfortunate rumours that my decision is linked to any desire for any seat. The party had graciously asked me to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, but I had politely turned it down. Contesting one more election would have further entrenched me in the world of politics, something I don’t want at this point in time. I continue to hold all my ex-party colleagues in high regard and wish them good luck in their future endeavors.
India is a work in progress. In my own small way, I hope, I’ll have something to contribute to this cause.”